Judiciary Committee Chairman firm on June 28 hearings for Kagan, sees July confirmation vote

Judiciary chairman expects July vote for Kagan

WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee says the Senate likely will vote in July on confirming Elena Kagan to a seat on the Supreme Court.

Sen. Patrick Leahy can’t foresee postponing his panel’s June 28 hearing date despite Republicans’ complaints that the timetable won’t give them sufficient time to review Kagan’s record.

The Vermont Democrat says Kagan should be confirmed before the Senate leaves Aug. 6 for a monthlong recess.

Leahy says Kagan was right when she wrote in the 1990s that Supreme Court nominees should be more forthcoming, but suspects it will be difficult to get her to state any specific information during his panel’s hearings.

Leahy’s remarks are scheduled to air Sunday on C-SPAN’s “Newsmakers” program.