After being stuck in congressional limbo for more than a year since his nomination to fill a spot on the federal appellate bench, U.S. District Judge Luis Felipe Restrepo of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is set to have a confirmation vote before the full U.S. Senate early in the new year.

But the same glacial pace that plagued Restrepo’s confirmation process could befall four Pennsylvania district court nominees if partisan politics are at play, according to observers.