Trump sure knows how to pick ’em. This judiciary nominee, Matthew Spencer Petersen, up for a seat on the US District Court for the District of Columbia, was completely out of his element when asked basic questions at his hearing by GOP Sen. John Kennedy. In fact, he can’t answer a single question the way someone qualified for the job should answer. The poor fellow looks awkward and uncomfortable, to say the least.
“Have you ever tried a jury trial?” Kennedy asked.
“I have not,” Petersen said.
“Civil?”
“No.”
“Criminal?”
“No.”
“State or federal court?”
“I have not.”
“Do you know what a motion in limine is?”
“My background is not in litigation. I haven’t had to do a deep dive.”
And it goes on and on.
According to CNN:
Petersen’s testimony followed the narrow confirmation of another one of the president’s judicial nominees, Leonard Steven Grasz, to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals despite the fact that he had received a “not qualified” rating from the American Bar Association.
The White House said earlier this week that it would withdraw the nomination of Brett Talley who was also unanimously rated by the ABA as “not qualified.” He was originally nominated to serve as a district judge in Alabama. The administration is also withdrawing the name of Jeff Mateer, who was up for a seat on the district court in Texas, following comments that have surfaced where he called transgender children part of “Satan’s plan.”