AUGUSTA – The Maine Senate on Wednesday decided several appointments to the University of Maine System board of trustees and also confirmed the governor’s District Court nominee, Robert Murray Jr. of Bangor.

With the Senate’s vote, Murray moves from Gov. John Baldacci’s Cabinet as commissioner of the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation to the judiciary. His confirmation also marks the former legislator’s entry into the third branch of state government in which he will have served.

Maine’s District Court system handles civil and criminal matters and has 33 judges serving in 31 locations.

Also confirmed routinely Wednesday were the governor’s new appointments to the UMaine system board, Jean Flahive of Eastport, Paul Mitchell of Waterville, and Victoria Murphy of Portland.

The Senate confirmed the reappointments of Barry McCrum of Mars Hill, Margaret Weston of Yarmouth, and Charles Johnson III of Hallowell to the UMS board.