Pennsylvania senators John Fetterman and Bob Casey celebrated the nomination of Mary Kay Costello to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. If confirmed, Costello will sit in Philadelphia and will be President Joe Biden’s ninth federal judge appointment in Pennsylvania.

“Recommending Mary Kay Costello’s nomination to the White House was an easy decision, and I applaud President Biden for recognizing her exceptional qualifications,” said Fetterman. “Throughout her service in the Air Force and as a prosecutor, Mary Kay has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to our nation and to the people of Pennsylvania. With a well-earned reputation for being a fair prosecutor who prioritizes real justice over high conviction rates – it is people like Mary Kay who are exactly what our judicial system needs. I’m proud to see the Pennsylvania courts being enriched with such diverse and dedicated legal professionals, and I eagerly anticipate her confirmation.”

“Mary Kay Costello’s experience as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, in private practice, and in the U.S. Air Force leaves no doubt in my mind that she will continue to serve the people of Eastern Pennsylvania honorably,” said Casey. “As a military vet and longtime federal prosecutor, she has devoted her career to defending our Nation, fighting corruption, rooting out fraud, and keeping our communities safe. I look forward to voting to swiftly confirm her and to help her make history.”

Costello has served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Philadelphia for the past 15 years, prosecuting cases involving public corruption, fraud, drug trafficking, and other significant crimes. Costello served for eight years in the Air Force as a communications-computer systems operator, receiving an honorable discharge in 1994 as a staff sergeant.

She and her spouse have two young children and reside in Philadelphia. Costello earned both her undergraduate and law degrees from Temple University, where she graduated in the top five percent of her class.

If confirmed, Costello will be the twelfth openly LGBTQ+ judge appointed by President Biden, surpassing any president in history. President Barack Obama confirmed eleven LGBTQ+ judges over his two terms.

This will be President Biden’s fifty-first round of nominees for federal judicial positions, bringing the number of announced federal judicial nominees to 247.