Robert Gavin and Mike Goodwin are reporting for the Times Union Cohoes City Court Judge Thomas Marcelle quietly withdrew his name from consideration for a seat on the federal bench after his nomination was blocked by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. President Donald J. Trump nominated Marcelle for U.S. District Court in October, but the nomination was never acted on by the U.S. Senate, which confirms the nominations of federal judges. Marcelle, a Slingerlands resident, blamed the demise of his candidacy on Gillibrand, after the Democrat refused to file a blue slip, which signals a senator agrees to allow U.S. District Court nominee to proceed. A spokesperson for the senator confirmed that she withheld a blue slip because of "concerns with (Marcelle's) record on reproductive rights." When Marcelle, 57, was nominated in 2012, by Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy to be county attorney, his nomination was opposed by the Empire State Pride Agenda, among many others. Marcelle withdrew his name in a June letter to the White House. Senators were notified about his decision in early July. Read the full story in the Times Union.