The senate confirmed two appointees to the Federal Trade Commission Wednesday night, tipping the balance on the five-member commission to three seats appointed by Democrats to two held by Republican appointees.

The newcomers are Edith Ramirez and Judith Brill.  Ramirez is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Quinn, Emanuel and has background in copyright and antitust law.

Brill is the senior deputy attorney general and chief of consumer protection and antitrust for the North Carolina Department of Justice. Before that served as assistant attorney general of Vermont.  She is former vice chair of the ABA’s Consumer Protection Committee and has been hailed by Privacy International for her work promoting consumers’ privacy issues as assistant attorney general for Vermont.

Brill in particular, according to the Washington Post’s Cecilia Kang, is expected to focus on protecting consumers’ online privacy as well as online marketing safeguards.

"We look forward to welcoming the newly confirmed Federal Trade Commissioners Julie Brill and Edith Ramirez," said Jon Leibowitz, FTC chairman, "They are both exceptionally talented and committed, and will bring a wealth of experience, knowledge and new energy to the Commission."

More than experience and knowledge, they bring a consumer friendly orientation to the Commission, an approach that has been largely lacking in Washington in recent years.