Sotomayor Should Be Disqualified: Didn't Know Which Case Perry Mason Lost

Al Franken, the nation's newest senator, fell back on his comedy roots today when questioning Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Noting that she had said that the series Perry Mason was influential to her legal career and that she admired the character of prosecutor Hamilton Burger who lost all but one case to Mason, he asked her to name that case.

Franken: "What was the one case in 'Perry Mason' that Burger won?"

Sotomayor: "I wish I remembered the name of the episode, but I don't," Sotomayor said. "I just was always struck that there was only one case where his client was actually guilty."

Franken: "And you don't remember that case?"

Sotomayor: "I know that I should remember the name of it, but I haven't looked at the episode."

Franken: "Didn't the White House prepare you for that?"

To be honest, Franken didn't know the name of the episode, either. It also appears there were actually three. According to the Perry Mason TV Showbook, there are 3:

1. "The Case of the Witless Witness"
2. "The Case of the Terrified Typist"
3. "The Case of the Deadly Verdict"

Watch the exchange: