Senator John Kennedy, R-La., left a Biden judicial nominee speechless in her confirmation hearing Wednesday after he quizzed her on basic constitutional law theory.
Judge Anna de Alba, who currently sits on a California federal district court and is nominated to serve on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals struggled to define the Dormant Clause and Commerce Clause under Article 1 of the Constitution.
"This has been in the news a lot lately, and you'll probably see it if you're confirmed to the court of appeal. Tell me about the Dormant Commerce Clause," Kennedy questioned.
"I’m somewhat familiar with the Commerce Clause which is found in Article 1 of the Constitution," de Alba said.
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Senator John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana, during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
"There was a big Supreme Court case that just came out of your state," Kennedy interjected.
"And I apologize senator. You know, in my eleven years of practice and five years on the bench, I have not dealt with the Dormant Commerce Clause. But if I am so fortune enough to be confirmed nd have to deal with it in the future I would certainly…"
"You'll look it up?" Kenned interjected.
"Research it and yeah, be prepared," de Alba said.
The Supreme Court case Kennedy referred to involved California's Proposition 12 – a state law that says pork products imported into the state had to meet certain welfare standards.
The Justice Department sided against California in that case, saying the state ballot measure is unconstitutional because it violates the Dormant Commerce Clause, which prohibits one state from discriminating against another state’s commerce, or "impose undue burdens on interstate commerce."
Judge Ana de Alba at her nomination hearing to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Wednesday, May 17, 2023. (Senate Judiciary Committee)
Last week, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of California's law, a decision that pork producers say could have a transformational and costly effect on the pork production industry.
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The case came from the Ninth Circuit Appeals Court, where de Alba was nominated to serve. De Alba seemed to only be aware the Dormant Clause was under Article 1, and not much beyond that.
"All right, then just tell me about the Commerce Clause in general," Kennedy said.
"So my understanding about the Commerce Clause, like I stated senator, is that it is under Article 1 of the Constitution, and it allows the legislature to create laws that allow for movement and things related to commerce in the United States, and anything crossing state lines, things like that."
"So it allows Congress to regulate commerce?" Kennedy questioned.
Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana. (Fox News)
"Yes."
"Between whom?"
"Between states for example," de Alba stated.
"Anybody else?"
"It's not coming to mind right now, senator," she replied.
The Commerce Clause gives Congress power "to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes."