The U.S. Senate has confirmed Latino judicial nominee John Michael Vazquez on Wednesday evening to serve as a judge in the Federal District Court in the District of New Jersey.

The Senate voted 84-2 to confirm Vazquez. Fourteen senators were not present to vote, including Latino Republican Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and Ted Cruz of Texas. The sole Latino Democrat in the Senate, Bob Menendez of New Jersey, voted in favor of Vazquez, who was nominated by President Barack Obama on March 26, 2015.

Ahead of the vote, Menendez addressed the Senate to speak about Vazquez -- a fellow New Jerseyan with impressive credentials.

"When I think about the breadth and scope of what comes before a federal district court judge, I can only think about the breadth and scope of his experience," said Menendez. "He understands both sides of the legal equation: the prosecution and the defense of a case. ... He is an eminently qualified nominee with impressive credentials and experience who will fill a 'judicial emergency' vacancy in the District of New Jersey."

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