Lawyers barf when some smug asshole who got his law degree at Blowhard U. mouths off about a judge who is doing what judges are supposed to do. It’s not up to Judge Barrett to tell people what ridiculous theories they are allowed to litigate. But, given that our idiot President may try to pardon himself (otherwise, why ask the question?), Judge Barrett must decline to say today what she thinks of the idea. Ditto, global warming and anything else that might get as high as her circuit court, because she cannot assume her elevation.

These questions are recusal bait. If she takes a position on them in her hearings, litigants can claim that she would be embarrassed to change her mind and so is ineligible to hear their cases. The Dem lawyers on the Committee know this. Maybe Umair does, too. One never knows where the stupidity ends and the sophistry begins.