Case closed on would-be judge

A MAN nominated by US President Donald Trump for the role of federal judge has withdrawn his candidacy following a humiliating interview last week, which went viral.

Matthew Petersen, a 47-yearold member of the federal election commission, was nominated to be a judge in the district of Columbia.

But Mr Petersen suffered an excruciating confirmation hearing last Wednesday, when he failed to answer the most basic legal questions. He was grilled by John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana, in a hearing session that was widely shared on social media.

Mr Kennedy asked whether any of the nominees had not tried a case to verdict in a courtroom. Only Mr Petersen raised his hand.

Mr Kennedy then asked whether he had tried a jury trial, a civil trial, a criminal trial, a bench trial, and a state or federal court trial. Mr Peterson answered no to every question.

“Have you ever taken a deposition by yourself ?” Mr Kennedy asked. “Uh, I believe no,” Mr Peterson replied.

“Just for the record, do you know what a motion in limine is?” Mr Kennedy asked. “I would probably not be able to give you a good definition right here at the table,” said Mr Petersen.

After the hearing, Mr Peterson, who became the third of Mr Trump’s judicial picks to flounder in just a week, said: “I had hoped that my nearly two decades of public service might carry more weight than my two worst minutes on television.”

Yet he has admitted defeat and has withdrawn his candidacy. Mr Trump accepted his withdrawal. (© Daily Telegraph, London)