New York (CNN Business) The New York Times said on Tuesday that it should not have allowed a staff writer who had tweeted negatively about Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court, to report on the judge for a story published Monday.

Emily Bazelon, who is a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine and a fellow at Yale Law School, co-authored a story published on Monday about a bar fight in 1985 during which Kavanaugh was accused of throwing ice at another customer. The Times' story was based on a police report about the incident.

But Bazelon had posted a tweet in July in which she called Kavanaugh a "5th vote for a hard-right turn on voting rights and so much more that will harm the democratic process & prevent a more equal society."

As a @YaleLawSch grad & lecturer, I strongly disassociate myself from tonight's praise of Brett Kavanaugh. With respect, he's a 5th vote for a hard-right turn on voting rights and so much more that will harm the democratic process & prevent a more equal society. 1/2 — Emily Bazelon (@emilybazelon) July 10, 2018

That tweet drew the attention of a number of critics who contended Bazelon's opposition to Kavanaugh presented a conflict of interest for The Times.

"What motivated New York Times reporter to write this ridiculous story?" Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, asked on Twitter . "Throwing ice 33 years ago, or her opinion of Judge Kavanaugh in July?"

Read More