Kennedy questioned Petersen first about his relative inexperience in courtrooms and depositions and then about his knowledge of legal procedure, asking if Petersen knew what the Daubert standard was, and what a motion in limine was. He struggled to answer. In response to the questions on his experience and knowledge, he said: Petersen's answers received criticism in the press and from lawmakers. The New York Times described it as one of the "more painful Senate hearings in recent memory". Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) complained that, of the "basic questions of law" Senator Kennedy asked, Petersen could not "answer a single one". Legal scholar Alicia Bannon blamed Petersen's answers on "a lack of preparation and basic understanding of pretty basic legal concepts". Carrie Campbell Severino of National Review defended Petersen, saying that his time at the FEC gave him experience in trial-like procedures. Matthew Sanderson of The Hill argued that Kennedy's concerns were largely irrelevant to the D.C. District, and criticized Kennedy as "bellitl[ing]" Petersen. Petersen withdrew his nomination on December 16, 2017. On January 3, 2018, his nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the United States Senate. See also Donald Trump judicial appointment controversies References |- |- 1970 births Living people 21st-century American lawyers Brigham Young University alumni Federalist Society members Lawyers from Washington, D.C. Members of the Federal Election Commission United States Senate lawyers University of Virginia School of Law alumni Utah lawyers Utah Republicans Utah Valley University alumni George W. Bush administration personnel Obama administration personnel Trump administration personnel