15 seconds ago 2009-12-10T12:50:03-08:00
Democrats are wasting no time now that Sonia Sotomayor has passed her confirmation hearing test in good condition.
Public witnesses for and against Sotomayor were still testifying when Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy's aides announced that it had scheduled a confirmation vote on her nomination for Tuesday. But while Republicans have said they won't block Sotomayor's confirmation, a committee vote might not happen then.
Any senator on the committee has the right to ask for a one-week delay on a confirmation vote. Scheduling the vote for Tuesday means that the latest it is going to happen is Tuesday, July 28. That gives Democrats almost two weeks to get her confirmed on the Senate floor before the chamber leaves for its summer break on August 7.
-Jesse J. Holland, AP reporter, Supreme Court
