Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) stumping Biden judicial nominees is starting to become a tradition.
That tradition continued with the grilling of Sara E. Hill, nominee for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, during a hearing on Wednesday.
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee described Hill as “an accomplished litigator with deep ties to Oklahoma and significant courtroom experience.”
Perhaps more importantly in their view, she checks off some vital demographic boxes.
“If confirmed, she’d be the first Native American woman to serve as a federal judge in Oklahoma,” they wrote on the X social media platform, formerly known as Twitter.
NOMINEE: Sara Hill to the Northern District of Oklahoma
Ms. Hill is an accomplished litigator with deep ties to Oklahoma and significant courtroom experience.
If confirmed, she’d be the first Native American woman to serve as a federal judge in Oklahoma. pic.twitter.com/RYe7g1Wvs4
— Senate Judiciary Committee (@JudiciaryDems) November 15, 2023
RELATED: Another Biden Judicial Nominee Can’t Answer Basic Legal Question
Can’t Give An Answer On Basic Legal Question
Senator Kennedy hit Hill with a fairly basic question from a legal aspect during the hearing, asking, “What’s the difference between a stay order and an injunction?”
The Daily Caller describes the phrases as “basic legal terms taught early on in law schools.”
What followed was an uncomfortable response from Hill that was reminiscent of a high schooler trying to answer questions on an oral exam after failing to study the night before.
“A stay – a stay order would prohibit, um … sorry, an injunction would restrain the parties from taking action … a stay order … I’m not sure that I actually can um, can give you the … that,” she replied.
Biden judicial nominee Sara Hill “made history” by being the first Native American woman nominated to serve as a federal judge in Oklahoma
Today, she was unable to explain the difference between a stay order and an injunction when asked by Sen. Kennedy. pic.twitter.com/i6VsjXjvhk
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) November 15, 2023
To her credit, Hill was able to answer all other questions thrown at her by Senator Kennedy.
The performance prompted Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL) to quip that she had “survive(ed) the John Kennedy six-minute bar exam.”
Still, she seemed cognizant of the one flub, joking that, “My contracts teacher is going to be appalled, and I’m gonna have to live with that.”
It’s always a great day for diversity when somebody will head to the federal bench but doesn’t know something about the law that you can learn by watching a couple episodes of Suits.
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) November 15, 2023
RELATED: Biden Judge Nominee Can’t Answer Basic Questions About the Constitution
Not The First Biden Judicial Nominee To Fail the Kennedy Bar Exam
As mentioned before, this isn’t the first time Senator Kennedy has managed to trip up a Biden judicial nominee seeking to sit on the bench with a basic law question.
Kato Crews, a nominee for district judge of the U.S. District Court of Colorado, was completely unaware of what a fundamental legal procedure known as a “Brady motion” is.
Crews, during a confirmation hearing in March, was asked by Senator Kennedy how he would analyze such a motion.
.@SenJohnKennedy Humiliates Biden Judicial Nominee
KENNEDY: “Tell me how you analyze a Brady Motion.”
KATO CREWS: “I don’t believe I’ve had the occasion to address a Brady Motion.”
KENNEDY: “Do you know what a Brady Motion is?”
KATO CREWS: “It’s not coming to mind.” pic.twitter.com/K5lww6EeK4
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) March 22, 2023
Kennedy also tripped up Spokane County Superior Court Judge Charnelle Bjelkengren earlier this year when asking her about Articles II and V of the Constitution.
“Tell me what Article V of the Constitution does,” Kennedy pressed during a hearing earlier this year.
“Article V is not coming to mind at the moment,” Bjelkengren replied.
“OK. How about Article II?” the Senator countered.
“Neither is Article II,” she responded.
He isn’t the first Biden nominee to the federal bench who doesn’t know basic things that are taught in an Intro to the Constitution class.
But at least they’re full of diversity. pic.twitter.com/QcY8jeoOAw
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) March 22, 2023
Hill served as Attorney General of the Cherokee Nation from 2019 to 2023.
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