John Fetterman reportedly allows Trump judicial pick in Pa. to move forward, a first for a Democrat

Rob Tornoe, The Philadelphia Inquirer on Jun 5, 2026

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President Donald Trump’s pick for a federal judge in Pennsylvania can move forward, and it appears Sen. John Fetterman, D., Pa., is to thank.

Fetterman, like all U.S. senators, has the ability to block the president’s nominations to the federal bench — which are lifetime appointments — in their state. The arcane courtesy, known in Washington as a “blue slip,” dates back more than 100 years.

Fetterman reportedly has decided against blocking Trump’s nominee for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania — Antonio Pozos, a former federal prosecutor now a partner at the Philadelphia law firm Faegre Drinker and a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania’s Carey Law School.

Fetterman’s office did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson confirmed the move to Punchbowl News and Bloomberg, though the senator has not said whether he’ll ultimately vote to confirm Pozos.

In allowing Pozos to advance, Fetterman would become the first Democrat in the U.S. Senate to allow one of Trump’s judicial nominations for federal district court to move forward.

Traditionally, both sitting senators in a state must turn in their blue slips to allow a judicial nominee to move forward. Pozos sat for an interview with Sen. Dave McCormick, R.-Pa., in March, according to his Senate Judiciary Committee questionnaire.

McCormick’s office did not respond to a request for comment. The Republican senator isn’t expected to block Pozos’ nomination, which is expected to advance to the Senate Judicial Committee as soon as next week.

For Fetterman, it’s just the latest example of his transition from a progressive populist to a key backer on some of Trump’s priorities and nominees, though he continues to vote with Democrats on most issues.

Fetterman has been an outspoken supporter of Israel and Trump’s war in Iran, casting the deciding vote last month against limiting the president’s ability to continue the conflict without congressional approval. He’s also been a vocal backer of Trump’s proposed White House ballroom, calling on Democrats to “drop the TDS,” an acronym for “Trump derangement syndrome,” which the president uses to attack his critics.

Fetterman’s vote was also crucial in allowing former Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R.-Okla., to be confirmed as Kristi Noem’s replacement at the Department of Homeland Security. Among Democrats, he’s opposed the fewest Trump nominees — seven, though he did not cast votes for four, according to the New York Times.

“It’s freeing” at times to go against fellow Democrats, Fetterman said during an appearance on Fox News last month. “When I’m confronted by things that I happen to agree (with), I’m going to vote for that or I’m going to support those kinds of things.”

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