A pair of Jan. 6 misdemeanor cases finally ticketed for trial years later were put on hold by federal judges anticipating President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration could lead to pardons for non-violent protesters.

U.S. District Judges Carl Nichols and Rudolph Contreras, appointed by Trump and former President Barack Obama, respectively, eschewed Biden administration Justice Department objections to defendants' requests to delay proceedings on misdemeanor trespassing charges stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol protest.

The judges sided with defendants' requests over DOJ prosecutor's objections, saying they did not want to use court time, resources, and impaneling jurors for cases that might ultimately be made moot by presidential clemency when Trump is sworn in Jan. 20, Politico reported.