Gulfport attorney Halil Suleyman “Sul” Ozerden was confirmed Tuesday by the U.S. Senate for a federal judgeship in south Mississippi.

Ozerden, 40, is succeeding U.S. District Judge David C. Bramlette, who is taking senior status.

Ozerden, whose family emigrated from Turkey, was born in Hattiesburg. He graduated from Gulfport High School.

He attended Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service on a Navy ROTC scholarship and graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Following graduation, he served six years active duty in Navy.

Ozerden went on to earn his law degree from the Stanford Law School.

President Bush first nominated Ozerden in 2006 and resubmitted his name to the Senate in January when a new Congress convened.

Ozerden had the support of U.S. Sens. Trent Lott and Thad Cochran, both R-Miss.

“Sul’s academic credentials, brilliant mind, analytical ability, legal skills, world experiences and common sense are rare qualities in one person. The federal judiciary is lucky to have the opportunity to secure the services of Sul Ozerden,” Lott said in a statement.

Before the vote, Cochran told fellow senators that he had come to know Ozerden and his family, calling them “outstanding citizens of the Gulf Coast area of the state of Mississippi. I’m very pleased that he accepted the nomination and is prepared to take his place on the bench of the federal court in our state. …”