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Matthew Petersen
Matthew Spencer Petersen is a former commissioner on the Federal Election Commission. On September 11, 2017, Petersen was nominated to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia by President Donald Trump (R).[1][2][3] On December 18, 2017, Petersen withdrew from consideration following a nomination hearing where he faced questions about his legal experience and knowledge.[4] Petersen resigned as FEC commissioner on August 31, 2019.[5]
Education
Petersen earned an associate degree from Utah Valley State College with honors. He earned his bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, from Brigham Young University in 1996. He earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1999. During a period of his legal studies, Petersen was a member of the Virginia Law Review.[1][6]
Professional career
- 2008 - 2019: Commissioner, Federal Election Commission
- 2005-2008: Republican chief counsel, United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration
- 2002-2005: Counsel, United States House of Representatives Committee on House Administration
- 1999-2002: Private practice, Washington, D.C.[1][6]
Federal judicial nomination
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
District of Columbia
 |
| Nominee Information |
| Name: Matthew Spencer Petersen |
| Court: United States District Court for the District of Columbia |
| Progress |
| Withdrawn 98 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: September 11, 2017
|
| ABA Rating: Unanimously Qualified
|
| Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
| Hearing: December 14, 2017
|
| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
 Reported:
|
| Confirmed:
|
| Withdrawn: December 18, 2017
|
Petersen was nominated by President Donald Trump (R) on September 11, 2017, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia vacated by Richard Roberts. The American Bar Association rated Petersen Unanimously Qualified for the nomination. As an Article III judicial nominee, Petersen had confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee on December 14, 2017..[1][2][7] Petersen's hearing generated media coverage after Senator John Neely Kennedy (R-LA) questioned him about legal doctrines and Petersen's lack of trial experience.[8] On December 18, 2017, Petersen withdrew from consideration.[4]
See also
- United States District Court for the District of Columbia
- United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The White House, "President Donald J. Trump announces seventh wave of judicial candidates," September 7, 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 United States Congress, "PN 1117 — Matthew Spencer Petersen — The Judiciary," accessed September 11, 2017
- ↑ The White House, "Ten nominations sent to the Senate today," September 11, 2017
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Washington Post, "Trump judicial nominee Matthew Petersen pulls out after struggling to answer basic questions," December 18, 2017
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Letter to President Donald Trump," August 26, 2019
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Federal Election Commission, "Biography of Matthew S. Petersen," accessed September 13, 2017
- ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III and Article IV judicial nominees, 115th Congress," accessed November 30, 2017
- ↑ CBS News, "Senator openly mocks Trump judicial nominee," December 15, 2017
