Jan 25, 2024
3 mins read
3 mins read

WATCH: Sen. John Kennedy Stumps Biden Nominee Robin M. Meriweather with Legal Questions

WATCH: Sen. John Kennedy Stumps Biden Nominee Robin M. Meriweather with Legal Questions
During a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting, Sen. John Kennedy stumped President Biden’s nominee for the Court of Federal Claims, Robin M. Meriweather, with questions about her legal knowledge and experience.

By yourNEWS Media Staff

Republican Senator John Kennedy from Louisiana presented a challenging line of questioning to Robin M. Meriweather, President Joe Biden’s nominee for a judgeship on the Court of Federal Claims. During a recent Senate Judiciary Committee meeting, Kennedy’s questions revealed gaps in Meriweather’s experience and knowledge pertaining to the Court of Federal Claims.

Meriweather admitted to having no experience in arguing motions or trying cases in the Court of Federal Claims, despite her extensive experience in handling complex civil claims in numerous other courts. When asked about the grounds for granting a new trial in the Court of Federal Claims, Meriweather struggled to provide specific criteria, instead stating she would consult the rules if such a situation arose during her tenure.

Kennedy pressed further, asking for any grounds for granting a new trial in either a federal district court or the Court of Federal Claims, to which Meriweather vaguely referred to a “gross misapplication of the law” as a potential reason.

The Senator’s questioning took another turn when he asked about the concept of a contract of adhesion, a common issue in the Court of Federal Claims. Meriweather, while familiar with contract law, could not define a contract of adhesion, prompting Kennedy to provide the definition sourced from Cornell University.

Kennedy’s interaction with Meriweather follows a pattern of his challenging questioning style, as seen in his previous engagements with other Biden nominees, including Sara E. Hill. In those instances, Kennedy sought to elucidate the nominees’ understanding of legal terms and concepts relevant to their potential future roles.

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The Senate Judiciary Committee’s examination of nominees often involves such probing questions to assess the candidates’ legal expertise and readiness for federal judicial appointments. For more information on Sen. Kennedy’s line of questioning and the nominee’s responses, refer to the original coverage by the Daily Caller.

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