Hartford lawyer Michael P. Shea was confirmed 72 to 23 by the U.S. Senate to become Connecticut’s newest U.S. District Judge.

Shea heads the appellate practice section at Day Pitney. Nominated by U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman in February, Shea had been denied a vote all year due to partisan gridlock in Congress, which has stalled the appointment of judicial nominees in the Obama administration.