Tracy Thorne-Begland. (AP Photo, Alexa Welch-Edlund/Richmond Times-Dispatch)

After being rejected in May by the Virginia House of Delegates, today gay Richmond prosecutor Tracy Thorne-Begland was appointed to a District Court judgeship by a panel of Circuit Court judges, reports the Post.

Thorne-Begland was rejected by conservative legislators, some of whom seemed concerned with his sexual orientation and others that argued that his opposition to the military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” while he served in the U.S. Navy over two decades ago meant he wouldn’t have the judicial temperament to serve as a judge.

And though his appointment is only good through the next legislative session in 2013, some legislators that initially voted against him have come out to say that they will not stand in his way if he is nominated again next year. One delegate said that after looking into the matter, he had concluded that Thorne-Begland did not speak out against “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” while in uniform, and as such did not violate any military regulations.

Earlier this week Thorne-Begland received the support of five of Richmond’s largest law firms. He was also supported by Gov. Bob McDonnell.