Life_Long_Dem!
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The White House, pushing forward on its hard sell for a quick confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, rounded up law enforcement officials today to vouch for her.
The confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee will start on July 13. Democrats and the White House had been pushing for the hearings before the month-long August recess, but Republicans had been resisting, saying they needed more time to pore through Sotomayor's record.
Senator Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat who is chairman of the judiciary panel, said on the floor that the date represents a "fair and adequate" schedule that would give members of the committee several more weeks to prepare.
One of the liberal groups supporting Sotomayor praised the announcement, saying it shows her confirmation is "on track.
"Judge Sotomayor is an eminently qualified nominee, and the misguided efforts by some prominent Republicans and their right-wing allies to smear her have failed," People For the American Way President Michael B. Keegan said in a statement.
"In recent years Supreme Court nominees have traditionally had hearings within two months of being nominated. Today's announcement is consistent with the timeline for nominees of both parties."
Representatives from eight national law enforcement organizations endorsed Sotomayor, and the White House touted the support as proof that she'll be tough, but fair, on crime. "These groups know her record on crime: as a prosecutor and then on the federal bench, Judge Sotomayor has always been both fair and tough, and has followed the rule of law at every turn," the White House said in a statement.
Law groups endorse Sotomayor, hearings set for July - 2008 Presidential Campaign Blog - Political Intelligence - Boston.com
The confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee will start on July 13. Democrats and the White House had been pushing for the hearings before the month-long August recess, but Republicans had been resisting, saying they needed more time to pore through Sotomayor's record.
Senator Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat who is chairman of the judiciary panel, said on the floor that the date represents a "fair and adequate" schedule that would give members of the committee several more weeks to prepare.
One of the liberal groups supporting Sotomayor praised the announcement, saying it shows her confirmation is "on track.
"Judge Sotomayor is an eminently qualified nominee, and the misguided efforts by some prominent Republicans and their right-wing allies to smear her have failed," People For the American Way President Michael B. Keegan said in a statement.
"In recent years Supreme Court nominees have traditionally had hearings within two months of being nominated. Today's announcement is consistent with the timeline for nominees of both parties."
Representatives from eight national law enforcement organizations endorsed Sotomayor, and the White House touted the support as proof that she'll be tough, but fair, on crime. "These groups know her record on crime: as a prosecutor and then on the federal bench, Judge Sotomayor has always been both fair and tough, and has followed the rule of law at every turn," the White House said in a statement.
Law groups endorse Sotomayor, hearings set for July - 2008 Presidential Campaign Blog - Political Intelligence - Boston.com
