Multiple Trump judicial nominees, including Justin Smith nominated to the Eighth Circuit, have refused to directly answer or have dodged Senate Democrats' questions about who won the 2020 election, instead offering scripted answers about Electoral College procedures. Senator Blumenthal called these responses 'canned, pre-rehearsed' and criticized them as showing a lack of judicial independence and impartiality. Smith himself has been identified as an election denier who signed an amicus brief attempting to overturn the 2020 election results, raising questions about impartiality if confirmed to a lifetime appointment.