The U.S. Senate confirmed a new judge Tuesday for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Birmingham lawyer Kevin Newsom will fill a vacant seat on the Atlanta-based court that handles federal appeals for Georgia, Florida and Alabama. The vote was 66-31.

The news of Newsom's confirmation was upstaged somewhat by the nearly unanimous vote also Tuesday to confirm Christopher Wray of Atlanta's King & Spalding as FBI director.

But like Wray, Newsom earned a supportive speech by a senator from his home state. Republican Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama announced the news of the vote and posted a YouTube video of his remarks.