Bangor lost a top lawyer and Maine and the nation gained a promising judge when, uncharacteristically, the Senate the other day swiftly confirmed George Singal as U.S. District Court judge. It was an excellent choice and a fine example of how Maine’s congressional delegation could be effective in working together.

Mr. Singal arrives at this honor with impeccable credentials, universally admired by members of his profession and the many people he has worked with over the years. A member of the Bangor firm Gross, Minsky, Mogal and Singal, he has served on the Governor’s Judicial Selection Committee and was chairman of the committee to select magistrate judges in Maine. He will be an important addition to the federal courts in Maine and an able successor to the late Judge Morton Brody.

On May 11, when President Clinton accepted the advice of Democratic Rep. John Baldacci to nominate Mr. Singal to the judgeship, no one doubted his abilities. The question was whether the Senate, which had been known to hold up nominations for months or even years, would act before adjourning for the year. A new president after the November election could have put an end to the nomination.

By each strongly supporting the nomination, however, Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and Democratic Reps. Baldacci and Tom Allen made it easy for the Senate to concentrate on Mr. Singal’s skills and not the politics that often surround judicial nominations. That was particularly important for Maine, which has only three district court judgeships and would have trouble if there had been a lengthy delay in naming a third member. Fortunately, a superb candidate and a well-coordinated approach from the delegation means the vacancy will be unusually short.

Call it a win for teamwork and for Maine.