Leahy: 'Vicious' Attacks on Sotomayor Only Speed the Process

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee, said today that he will push to schedule hearings on the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor "sooner rather than later" because of what he called "vicious attacks" on Sotomayor by leading Republicans.

The senator said he wants to schedule confirmation hearings in July so that Sotomayor can defend herself in public.

"When you have these vicious attacks by leading Republicans, calling her the equivalent of the head of the Klu Klux Klan, and calling her a bigot," he said, "The only place she can answer those charges would be in a hearing room. And I want her to have that chance."

Leahy said that given the tone of the debate surrounding the nomination, waiting until September to hold hearings would be irresponsible.

The top Republican on the committee, Sen. Jeff Sessions, wants more time to prepare. "I would hope the chairman would keep an open mind. September is not irresponsible." With thousands of cases to sort through, Sessions said senators need time to review Sotomayor's record as a prosecutor, a corporate lawyer and a judge.

Asked about Republicans calling Sotomayor a "racist," Sessions said, "I will not use that kind of language." He also pointed out that the Republicans in question are not senators, nor even elected officials. "The Senate owes her a fair hearing. She will get a fair hearing," Sessions said. In 1986, Sessions himself was nominated to the federal bench by President Ronald Reagan, but was rejected by the Senate Judiciary committee, then under Democratic control.

Leahy and Sessions will meet tomorrow to hammer out a hearing schedule. Meanwhile, Sotomayor will continue to meet with senators throughout the week.