Biden judicial nominee who failed to answer basic constitutional questions withdraws name from consideration

A judicial nominee who failed to answer basic questions about the Constitution during her confirmation hearing has withdrawn her nomination, according to Reuters.

Spokane County Superior Court Judge Charnelle Bjelkengren, to whom President Joe Biden nominated in September 2022 to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, asked the White House not to re-nominate him for consideration after his nomination expires at the end of 2023, Reuters. reported Tuesday. Bjelkengren came under fire after she failed to answer questions from Louisiana Republican Sen. John Kennedy about what Articles 5 and 2 of the Constitution say during her January 2023 confirmation. audition.

“I asked the president not to reappoint me because of the uncertainty of my confirmation and in order to advance the important work of the federal judiciary,” Bjelkengren told Reuters. “My hope is the speedy confirmation of the next nominee.”

Bjelkengren's nomination was advanced through the Senate Judiciary Committee on party lines in May, but was not made available to to vote. The beam branch he said Kennedy's response was “not coming to mind at the moment” when asked what Article 5 of the Constitution does. “And Article 2?” Kennedy followed. “Neither is Article 2,” Bjelkengren said.

Another Biden nominee for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, Colleen Holland, also asked to withdraw her name, according to Reuters. Biden announced his nomination in August 2023.

“This was a personal decision made after careful consideration,” Holland wrote to one statement on the Hill

Biden announced six new judges nominations Wednesday.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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