Republicans Balk at Sotomayor Hearings

Senate Republicans responded angrily today to Sen. Patrick Leahy's announcement that the Senate Judiciary hearings for Sonia Sotomayor will begin July 13, calling the swift scheduling unnecessary, unrealistic and far too soon.

On the Senate floor, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, slammed the July 13 start date: "I believe that's too early. I don't don't believe it's necessary. I think it's more important to do this matter right than we do it quick."

Sessions also said that although Sen. Leahy indicated he had worked with Sessions to schedule the hearings, Sessions only learned of the actual dates from media reports today. Sessions also said that the questionnaire that Sotomayor returned to the Judiciary committee was incomplete and needs to be expanded. A four-week time frame for all of the preparations is "unrealistic," he said.

The Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell (R-KY) sent a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid this afternoon, and went to the floor to object to the time line that Leahy put forward. McConnell said that July 13th hearings would be an unnecessary rush that would hurt Senate collegiality on the Sotomayor nomination and all other business before the Senate.

Despite Republicans' objections today, there is little they can do to slow the process, short of a filibuster. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid controls the vote schedule on the Senate floor and said he is very comfortable with the timing. "I believe it is important that Senators be permitted the opportunity to thoroughly review Judge Sotomayor's record and to fulfill our constitutional duty to provide advice and consent. I believe our proposed schedule for hearings and a floor vote on her confirmation will do so."