WASHINGTON—The Senate confirmed the nomination of a judge July 9 who attended a same-sex union ceremony in 2002 and drew criticism from a conservative senator about her views on gay marriage.

Sen. Sam Brownback, a candidate for the Republican nomination for president, was one of four senators who voted against the confirmation of Janet T. Neff to be a federal District Court judge in western Michigan. Her nomination was approved by a vote of 83-4.

Last year Brownback questioned Neff’s views of gay marriage after learning about her role in the same-sex ceremony. He blocked her nomination, a privilege that senators hold, but then agreed to allow it to come up for a vote after he met with her privately and she appeared for a Senate hearing.

Neff, a Michigan Court of Appeals judge, said during the hearing in May that the Massachusetts ceremony was for the daughter of close family friends and her partner. Neff said she gave a homily but did not preside over the service.