CAPE ELIZABETH – A Cape Elizabeth man was confirmed last week by the U.S. Senate to serve as a judge on the First Circuit Court of Appeals.

William Kayatta Jr. was confirmed by a vote of 88-12, ending a long nomination process. Kayatta was originally nominated by President Barack Obama on Jan. 23, 2012, but never received a full Senate vote after being approved by the Judiciary Committee on March 29. Kayatta’s nomination was reactivated by the president earlier this year and he was again passed out of the Judiciary Committee on Feb. 7.

Kayatta has been a partner at the law firm of Pierce Atwood in Portland for more than 25 years. He was raised in South Portland and received his B.A. magna cum laude in 1976 from Amherst College and his J.D. magna cum laude in 1979 from Harvard Law School, where he served as an editor and officer of the Harvard Law Review.

“I was proud to vote in favor of Bill’s confirmation today,” Sen. Angus King said in a press release. “His installation on the First Circuit Court of Appeals, although long-awaited, is certainly a well-deserved victory – for both Bill and for Maine. I had the privilege of speaking with him on the phone immediately after the vote to congratulate him, and he expressed his gratitude, as well as his enthusiasm to begin the work of his new post.”

“While this vote took too long to happen, we’re pleased the Senate has approved the nomination of Bill Kayatta for the First Circuit Court of Appeals,” said Maine’s U.S. representatives, Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree, in a joint statement. “He is highly qualified and will serve our country with integrity.”

William Kayatta Jr.