SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Covington & Burling partner Haywood Gilliam Jr. to a seat on the Northern District federal bench Tuesday night.

Gilliam, a former federal prosecutor and the current vice chairman of Covington’s white-collar defense and investigation group, will fill the position vacated by U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken, who assumed senior status on Wednesday following Gliliam’s confirmation.