Biden District Court Nominee Stumped By John Kennedy’s Most Basic Questions About The Constitution

Charnelle Marie, Federal District Court nominee, appeared to have difficulty understanding the most basic questions at Thursday’s hearing before Senate Judiciary Committee.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) attempted to keep his questions simple, asking directly what Article V and Article II of the Constitution were designed to do — but Bjelkengren could not come up with an answer to either question.

WATCH:

Q: “Judge, tell me what article V of the Constitution does?”

Biden judicial nominee: “Article V is not coming to mind at the moment.”

“How about article II?”

Nominee: “Neither is Article II”

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— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) January 26, 2023

Kennedy thanked the nominees and then jumped into the questions.

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and congratulations to all of you,” He began. “Judge … on the far end. Tell me what Article V of the Constitution does.”

Bjelkengren responded after a short pause. “Article V is not coming to mind at the moment.”

Article V Describes the process and procedures surrounding proposed amendments, including how they can be passed and ratified before being added to the U.S. Constitution.

“How about Article II?” Kennedy tried again.

“Neither is Article II,” was Bjelkengren’s response.

Article II of the Constitution defines the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government: how the president is elected — and by whom; the qualifications for and duties of the office; what the president’s powers are; who succeeds the president; and the impeachment process.

“Okay,” Kennedy responded, scratching his head before continuing. “Do you know what purposivism is?”

“In my 12 years as an assistant attorney general and my nine years serving as a judge, I was not faced with that precise question,” She spoke. “We are the highest trial court in Washington State, so I’m frequently faced with issues that I’m not familiar with, and I thoroughly review the law. I research and apply the law to the facts presented to me.”

“Well, you’re going to be faced with it if you’re confirmed, I can assure you of that,” Kennedy warned.

PurposivismAccording to Merriam Webster, the definition of a “person” is: “any of various theories of nature or of human and animal behavior that regard purpose or conscious intent as a basal fact.”

Biden nominated Bjelkengren to serve as U.S. District Court Judge in the Eastern District of Washington — on the advice U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D–WA).

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