SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah lawmaker and state judge nominee who has drawn opposition from the LGBT community has won confirmation to be a 4th District Court Judge.

The Senate confirmed Gov. Gary Herbert's appointment of Rep. Kraig Powell, R-Heber City, during a special session of the Utah Legislature on Wednesday with a 24-0 vote.

"I'm very humbled by the opportunity," Powell told the Senate after his confirmation.

Powell, a lawyer who served four terms in the Utah House, pledged he would leave "partisan politics, policy positions and everything that goes with being a legislator" behind.

His appointment came with some controversy from the LGBT community because he has previously proposed legislation that some activist groups called anti-gay.

Powell proposed using the word "pairage" in a bill to define a married same-sex couple after the U.S. Supreme Court made gay marriage legal nationwide. Another bill would have required the state to favor heterosexual parents over same-sex parents in adoption and foster care.

Neither measure gained traction.

Powell apologized during a Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee hearing Monday, saying he was sorry for any offense he caused and that he has evolved since then. He said he would treat LGBT people equally before the law in his courtroom.

Before Monday's meeting, Equality Utah Executive Director Troy Williams sent an email to supporters raising questions about how Powell would rule on disputes between same-gender spouses, noting the lawmaker is on the record advancing bills making a second-class status for gay and lesbian parents.

But during Monday's meeting, Williams said he accepted Powell's apology.

"We found no reason not to confirm Rep. Powell. He came under a great deal of scrutiny (Monday), but in the end the vote of the committee was unanimous, 100 percent," said Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City.

Powell said after his confirmation that he "believes in fairness for every citizen, whatever walk of life they come from."

"We live in a country that says we belive in liberty and justice for all," he said. "I take that to heart."

Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, said he recently had an hourlong conversation with Powell before considering whether he would support his appointment.

"It was the most interesting conversation I've been involved in," Dabakis said. “(Powell) has my complete support, and I look forward to working with him and appreciate his attitude. I think he'll make a great judge."

Now confirmed, Powell will fill the position of Judge Claudia Laycock, who retires at the end of the year.

Contributing: Dennis Romboy