Texas has six new federal judges after the U.S. Senate this week confirmed judicial nominations to U.S. District Courts around the Lone Star State.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said in a statement that the judicial nominees are highly qualified and strongly committed to the rule of law.

“I have every confidence Texans will be well-served with their confirmation,” Cruz said.

Three of the judges won their confirmation votes on Wednesday.

Jeffrey Brown

Jeff Brown’s 50-40 confirmation will create a vacancy on the Texas Supreme Court as he leaves to preside over the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. He is a former justice of the Fourteenth Court of Appeals in Houston and served as a judge on the 55th District Court.

Brantley Starr Brantley Starr. Photo: Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM

Brantley Starr, confirmed on a 51-39 vote for the Northern District, will leave his job as deputy first assistant attorney general of Texas, where he supervised almost two dozen divisions in the Texas Office of the Attorney General. He is a former law clerk for ex-Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett, who is now a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Starr is also a former King & Spalding attorney and worked within the Texas solicitor general’s office.

In a statement, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said that he’s worked with Starr on complex and important legal challenges and seen Starr’s dedication to the rule of law and Constitution.

“As a federal judge, Brantley will continue to serve the people of Texas from the bench with the same integrity, dedication and intellect he has been known for throughout his career,” Paxton said.