SAN FRANCISCO — In a close vote, the U.S. Senate confirmed Vince Chhabria on Wednesday to a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Chhabria, a deputy city attorney and chief of appellate litigation for San Francisco, was approved by a 58-41 vote. He is expected to assume his seat within a few weeks, replacing U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, who took senior status on July 1.