Brian Sandoval Will serve as a judge at the Reno courthouse where he once bused tables and washed dishes.

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Senate on Monday by an 89-0 vote approved the nomination of Nevada Attorney General Brian Sandoval to become a federal judge in Reno.

President Bush still must sign a commission before Sandoval can be sworn in, which Sandoval thought would take only a couple of weeks. Until then, he will continue serving as attorney general.

A former state assemblyman, chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission and the first Hispanic elected statewide in Nevada, Sandoval will serve as a judge at the courthouse where he once bused tables and washed dishes.

"That was my first job. I was 13," Sandoval, 42, said in a phone interview from Carson City. "It's the dream of a lifetime for me to serve in this capacity."

Sandoval will succeed U.S. District Judge Howard McKibben, who assumed senior status in April.

As a federal judge, Sandoval will earn $162,100 per year. He currently earns $110,000 as attorney general.

Monday's vote concluded a seemingly effortless confirmation process for Sandoval. During his Sept. 29 confirmation hearing, Sandoval faced one question regarding his experience for the job. On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved his nomination by a unanimous vote without discussion.

But Sandoval said his confirmation was "the most difficult, challenging process I have ever undergone, from a personal perspective. I have a profound respect for the confirmation process because of how thorough the vetting is."

Sandoval, who was elected attorney general in 2002, said he does not have any second thoughts about giving up his political career for a lifetime appointment on the federal bench.

"Put it this way: I have been given an opportunity of a lifetime to engage in public service for the rest of my life," he said.

Bush nominated Republican Sandoval in March after receiving a recommendation from Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. Reid recommends every fourth federal judicial nominee from Nevada, according to an agreement with Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev.

"Brian has the qualities I always hoped for in a judge when I was a trial lawyer -- a commitment to fairness and rule of law," Reid said in a statement.

Ensign also issued a statement saying Sandoval is "a man of integrity who will work tirelessly on the federal bench."

Gov. Kenny Guinn announced Sept. 22 that Las Vegas lawyer George Chanos, 47, was his choice to replace Sandoval. Sandoval's four-year term as attorney general expires in January 2007. Under the state constitution, Guinn names the person to fill out the remainder of his term.

"I am very excited and very honored," Chanos said. "My primary goal is to make the attorney general's office the best law office in the state."

Chanos, a Republican, already has announced he will run for a full term in the 2006 election. Catherine Cortez Masto, also a Las Vegas lawyer, has announced she will run as a Democrat for attorney general.

Unlike his predecessors, Chanos does not plan to make Carson City his primary residence. He plans to continue to live with his family in Las Vegas and rent an apartment in Carson City.

"It makes no sense to force my family to move when so much of the work is in Las Vegas," he said.

His wife, Adriana Escobar Chanos, is the chief deputy attorney general in charge of the Bureau of Consumer Protection -- the state's consumer advocate. She has announced she will quit the post when her husband becomes attorney general to avoid the perception of a conflict of interest.