Senate Confirms Gay Woman as Federal Judge

WASHINGTON (AP) — Without Republican support, the Senate has narrowly confirmed an openly gay woman to become a judge on a federal court in New York.

Alison Nathan, who has served as an adviser to President Barack Obama, is the third openly gay person confirmed to the federal bench. The Senate approved Nathan's nomination to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York by a 48-44 vote Thursday.

Republicans said they opposed Nathan's confirmation because she indicated in a book that judges should consider foreign law in rulings. Sen. Jeff Sessions, the senior Republican on the Judiciary Committee, said Nathan's record indicates she has an "activist viewpoint."

In 2009, Nathan worked in the president's Office of Special Counsel. Last year, she moved to the New York solicitor general's office.