The US government’s criminal case against Boeing Co. over two fatal crashes took what legal observers called an unusual turn when a conservative Texas federal judge questioned how diversity practices would affect the selection of an independent safety monitor.

The fate of Boeing Co.’s plea deal with U.S. prosecutors over the two catastrophic crashes of its 737 Max jets now lies with a federal judge, after

The federal judge considering Boeing’s plea deal with prosecutors wants to know how the Justice Department’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies would affect the selection of an independent monitor to oversee the aerospace company.

The fate of Boeing Co.’s plea deal with US prosecutors over the two catastrophic crashes of its 737 Max jets now lies with a federal judge, after lawyers for the besieged planemaker, the government and victims’ family members argued their cases before him.

Victim families asked the judge to appoint an independent monitor, voicing little confidence in the Justice Department's monitoring of Boeing.

A judge reviewing Boeing’s (NYSE:BA) plea deal with U.S. prosecutors over two fatal crashes on Tuesday asked for more information before deciding whether to approve it, Bloomberg News reported. The judge wanted to see how a diversity and inclusion pledge would affect the choice of an outside monitor.