WASHINGTON D.C. | The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed U.S. Attorney Joseph Van Bokkelen for a federal judgeship Thursday afternoon.

Van Bokkelen, of Munster, will replace Judge Rudy Lozano at the Hammond federal courthouse.

The veteran trial lawyer said he was "honored" to be suggested by Republican Sen. Dick Lugar, nominated by President Bush and confirmed by the Senate.

Van Bokkelen said he is proud of a U.S. attorney's office staff that has done its job with "dignity" since President Bush appointed him a U.S. attorney in 2001. In six years, Van Bokkelen's office has tallied dozens of public corruption indictments and convictions while also attacking gun and drug cases.

"What I'm most proud of is the professionalism of the office," he said.

Lugar called Van Bokkelen this afternoon to tell the attorney he was unanimously confirmed by the full Senate, Van Bokkelen said. Lugar praised Van Bokkelen for his aggressive pursuit of corrupt officials and his prosecutions of gun and drug crimes.

"His performance as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Indiana has been nothing short of remarkable, and I am confident that he will approach his judgeship with the same enthusiasm and proficiency," Lugar said in a news release.

President Bush still needs to sign Van Bokkelen's appointment, which he can do sometime after Lozano becomes a senior judge, a position of semi-retirement, Van Bokkelen said. Van Bokkelen said he has been told Lozano plans to vacate the judgeship sometime after July 10. Van Bokkelen would be sworn in after that, he said. A robing ceremony would follow.

The U.S. attorney's assistant, historically, has become acting U.S. attorney until the president appoints a permanent replacement, Van Bokkelen said. That means Deputy U.S. Attorney David Capp could be acting U.S. attorney for the second time. He became acting U.S. attorney in 1999 and served until President Bush replaced President Clinton and appointed Van Bokkelen.

Again, the U.S. attorney post will go vacant with less than two years of a presidential term left.

"Whether or not they attempt to confirm a U.S. attorney or not, I have no idea," Van Bokkelen said.

Capp praised his boss.

"He'll be a very fair judge, very considerate to all the citizens that appear before him," Capp said. "I think we're all fortunate in northern Indiana we're getting someone of Joe's caliber."