On Wednesday, the Senate judiciary committee questioned Trump's district judge nominees. Things got awkward real quick.
Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) initiated a line of questioning that revealed that one nominee, Matthew S. Peterson, doesn't know the first thing about the workings, laws, and procedures necessary for running a courtroom.
The world got a front seat to the interrogation when Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) tweeted the awkward exchange. He summed it all up with one painfully accurate phrase: Hoo-boy.
MUST WATCH: Republican @SenJohnKennedy asks one of @realDonaldTrump’s US District Judge nominees basic questions of law & he can’t answer a single one. Hoo-boy. pic.twitter.com/fphQx2o1rc
— Sheldon Whitehouse (@SenWhitehouse) December 15, 2017
Kennedy kicked off his questioning by asking "Have any of you not tried a case to verdict in a courtroom?" To which Peterson raised his hand. That's because Peterson is a member of the Federal Election Commission, a Republican, and a lawyer with no trial experience.
Peterson went on to answer no to almost all of Kennedy's seemingly targeted questions about the nominee's knowledge of and experience with courtroom law and procedure (which was slim to none).
"As a trial judge, you’re obviously going to have witnesses. Can you tell me what the Daubert standard is?" Kennedy asked at one point.
The answer was no.
Peterson attempted to defend himself, explaining "the path that many successful district court judges have taken has been a different one than I have taken," and going on to talk about his experience at the FEC. But Kennedy wasn't having it, and cut him off by saying, "Yes, I’ve read your resume. Just for the record, do you know what a motion in limine is?"
*cringe*
This latest exchange provided fodder for even more criticisms that Trump's judicial nominees are unqualified. And while many people on social media lambasted Peterson (and Trump) for the nominee's lack of experience, many couldn't help but have a human reaction to watching the total humiliation of a human being in public.
Guess 2017 hasn't left us entirely soul-less?
Words cannot express how painful that was to watch.....
— Richard Richard (@busixb) December 15, 2017
This is essentially the nightmare of showing up for the final exam when you never went to class and oh you also are naked. YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO STUDY. https://t.co/KSprZS8xKU
— Supreme Court Places (@SCOTUSPlaces) December 15, 2017
Q. Can you at least tell me if you know what a courtroom is?
A. ——
Q. Courtroom.
A. Ah, uh, erm, well, it’s it’s it’s it’s—
Q. Court. Room.
A. Yes yes. Um, as as a, uh, room. Or as a a a thing?
Q. Either.
A. Ah, yes. I’m, well, I haven’t see—seen one myself, um, per se.— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) December 15, 2017
This is absolutely cringe worthy. This guy has been nominated to be a US federal district court judge 😳 https://t.co/4Iunkrpjzu
— Lauren Wihak (@lauren_wihak) December 15, 2017
If you want to laugh, weep, and suddenly have an overwhelming desire to light yourself and everything around you on fire, I recommend watching this. https://t.co/UH0oinrTdR
— Rebecca McCray (@rebeccakmccray) December 15, 2017
Assume this is one of Trump’s nominees to be a US District Judge. pic.twitter.com/d4gYf1n9tn
— Tim Fullerton (@TimFullerton) December 15, 2017
Still, the cringiness of it all didn't distract many from the fact that Trump is not only nominating wildly unqualified attorneys to the federal bench, he's also reshaping it entirely with a cabal of pro-business conservatives.
Lawyer here — agreed that people can forget some things, but not knowing what a motion in limine or Daubert standard are? That’s insane for anyone who has or might have any kind of role in a courtroom.
— CitizenKohn (@Bakohn) December 15, 2017
I realize I took a different path than other rocket scientists but I still think I have a unique perspective to offer from my time making baking soda volcanos in 4th grade
— Will Fries (@will_fries) December 15, 2017
This is a great analogy re: Peterson's response yesterday. https://t.co/PBQ6V2NOeE pic.twitter.com/GOjNgJrIYi
— Keith Lee (@associatesmind) December 15, 2017
Notice this hapless nominee, Matthew Peterson, has resume almost identical to WH Counsel Don McGahn's. For both, main credential involved sitting at FEC, casting 3d vote to block everything. Not the most intellectually demanding role.
— Mark Schmitt (@mschmitt9) December 15, 2017
🤨 .@SenJohnKennedy questions Trump US District Judge nominee Matthew Spencer Peterson.
This is STUNNING.
Ever tried a Jury trial?
Nope.
Civil?
Nope.
Criminal?
Nope.
Bench?
Nope.
State or fed court?
Nope.
Taken a deposition?
Nope.pic.twitter.com/Wc2VCSpFOi#FridayFeeling— Holly O'Reilly (@AynRandPaulRyan) December 15, 2017
As an attorney, it is shocking to watch the Chairman of the United States Federal Election Commission, and current nominee for US District Judge, not know the ABCs of litigation. In my opinion, he's not qualified to be a court intern let alone a US District Judge or Chairman. https://t.co/ev4z2bP7Rk
— Ilir Imeri (@ImeriLaw) December 15, 2017
Here’s how screwed this country is: Trump nominated a man who has never been in a courtroom for any litigation to be a US District Judge. A LIFETIME APPOINTMENT AND MANS CANT EVEN ANSWER BASIC QUESTIONS. https://t.co/6JOzl5bTGb
— eemi (@eemanabbasi) December 15, 2017
Chrissy Teigen, queen of the cringe face, pretty much summed it up:
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) December 15, 2017
watch the whole thing. CRINGGGGGGE
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) December 15, 2017
unqualified doofus nominates fellow unqualified doofus. doofees unite! https://t.co/4lPy3Ihjll
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) December 15, 2017
She gets it.