Sotomayor attacks may push up hearing date

WASHINGTON, May 31 (UPI) -- Harsh attacks from critics of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor may speed up the timetable for her hearing, a senior Democratic senator says.

U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told the NBC show "Meet the Press" Sunday that accusations of racism aimed at President Barack Obama's choice to replace the retiring Judge David Souter on the high court could prompt him to move up her hearing.

"All these attacks that are going out against her, she can't answer them," Leahy told NBC. "I intend to give her an opportunity to answer those attacks as soon as possible."

Leahy, however, wouldn't commit to an exact timetable, suggesting that even though the White House would like to hold the hearings in June, that may not be enough time for the members of the Judiciary Committee to thoroughly examine Sotomayor's 17-year judicial record.

"I certainly understand why the president wants her in there soon," Leahy said. "In the Senate, we have to determine what the time's going to be. I agree with the president, he's made a good choice … But I'm going to have to make that decision of when, when the hearing will be."