A nominee for a District of Columbia judgeship took a beating at his Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday when he could not define motion in limine.
U.S. district court nominee Matthew Petersen, a member of the Federal Election Commission, has never tried a case, has taken fewer than 10 depositions, and demurred when asked—twice—if he knew what a motion in limine is.
“My background is not in litigation … I understand the path that many successful district court judges have taken has been a different one than I have taken,” Petersen said at first.
When asked a second time, he said point-blank: “I would probably not be able to give you a good definition right here at the table.”