Date Set For Confirmation Hearings Of SCOTUS Nominee

WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick
Leahy says confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Sonia
Sotomayor will convene on July 13.

Leahy said the date presents a "reasonable schedule" that
would give members of the committee several more weeks to prepare.

President Barack Obama has urged the Senate to vote on
confirming Sotomayor to the high court before it leaves for a
congressional recess in August.

Senate Republicans are protesting the Democrats' decision, saying they need more time to
review Sotomayor's record.

Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, the top Republican on the Judiciary
Committee, says the date is too early and unrealistic. GOP Leader
Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is accusing Democrats of using
"heavy-handed" tactics. He says their actions threaten the
cooperation the Senate runs on.

Leahy announced the timetable Tuesday without giving Republicans notice
he was doing so after private negotiations with Sessions yielded no
bipartisan agreement on a date.

Leahy said there was "no reason to unduly delay
consideration of this well-qualified nominee. She deserves the
opportunity to go before the public and speak of her record." The
Vermont Democrat said that as a judge, she will only be able to
speak publicly about her record when the hearings convene.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)