The Senate Judiciary Committee today put off its vote on Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court nomination for one week, to July 28, after Republicans asked for a delay. Chairman Patrick Leahy says he is disappointed the Republicans held up the committee's action, but predicts Sotomayor will join the Supreme Court in time for an earlier-than-usual first meeting Sept 9.
Sotomayor is still expected to be confirmed easily. Jeff Sessions, the top Judiciary Committee Republican, said today that she is on track to be confirmed in early August—a slightly faster timetable than Republican-nominated Chief Justice John Roberts received. (More US Supreme Court stories.)