A federal judge in North Carolina appointed by Barack Obama has rescinded his decision to take "senior status," making him the second Democratic appointee to pull a reverse retirement on Donald Trump.

Summary

Two Democratic-appointed federal judges have unretired after the 2024 election, preventing Trump from appointing replacements.

The judges’ decisions were influenced by the Senate’s “blue slip” policy, which requires support from home-state senators for presidential nominees.

Republican leaders, including Mitch McConnell, have criticized the judges’ actions as partisan, while Democrats are rushing to confirm as many judges as possible before Trump takes office.