Senate approves federal district judge for Ill.

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) - Southern Illinois’ federal court clerk soon will be the first woman to serve as a U.S. judge in that region.

Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois says the Senate on Thursday confirmed by a 95-0 vote Nancy Rosenstengel’s nomination for the U.S. District Court position.

The Belleville woman has served in that district for about 15 years. She’s currently the clerk of the court, a post she’s held since 2009. Before that, she served as a law clerk in the district.

She also worked five years at a private St. Louis law firm.

She is a graduate of the University of Illinois and Southern Illinois University School of Law.

There was no immediate word on how soon Rosenstengel might be sworn in.