Washington • Magistrate David Nuffer is now one vote away from becoming Utah's newest federal judge after the Senate Judiciary Committee gave approval Thursday to his nomination.

The committee advanced Nuffer as part of a group of federal-level judges who will now await confirmation by the Senate.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, praised Nuffer's competence as a judge.

"He's a man of integrity and character and fairness and impartiality," Hatch said before the committee voted unanimously to approve Nuffer's nomination.

Nuffer, a former president of the Utah State Bar who had worked in private practice in the St. George area, was appointed in 1995 as a magistrate judge in Utah's federal court.

A magistrate serves for eight-year terms at the behest of the state's five federal judges and helps expedite court cases by holding preliminary proceedings.

If confirmed by the full Senate, Nuffer would be appointed for life to the bench and fill one of two open spots in the federal system in Utah. President Barack Obama nominated Nuffer to the bench in July.

No one has been nominated to replace Chief Judge Tena Campbell, who opted to take senior status at the beginning of the year. Senior status allows a judge to keep handling cases but opens up a full-time spot.

Nuffer said in his Judiciary Committee questionnaire that he hoped to continue to teach one class a year at Brigham Young University's law school, where he attended. Nuffer also said that he was active in the Washington County Democratic Party when in private practice.

tburr@sltrib.com