Sotomayor hearings set to start July 13

by Michael Muskal

Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to become an associate justice on the Supreme Court today were set for July 13, a victory for the White House, which has been pushing for early consideration.

The committee hearings come soon enough to probably allow the full Senate to consider the nomination before the summer recess in August. That would mean that Sotomayor could hire a staff and take her court seat in time to be a full participant in the Supreme Court's fall term.

President Barack Obama had pushed for early consideration, but Republicans had suggested a delay until September to allow time to study Sotomayor's judicial record as an appellate judge for the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York.

The hearing was announced by Judiciary Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who said the July 13 date would give all parties time to prepare.

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."