Washington: The Senate Judiciary Committee put off its vote on Tuesday on US Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor for one week amid objections from the panel`s conservative Republicans, even as the judge`s support among party moderates continued to grow.
Sen Patrick Leahy, a Democrat and the Judiciary chairman,
said his panel would vote on Sotomayor`s nomination on July 28
and expressed confidence she would win confirmation as the
first Hispanic Justice by a bipartisan vote of the full Senate
in time for the Supreme Court`s earlier-than-usual first
meeting Sept 9.
His prediction came as Sen Susan Collins became the
latest Republican to publicly commit to voting for President
Barack Obama`s first high court pick. She will replace
retiring Justice David Souter, a member of the court`s liberal
wing.
"I know that I will not agree with every decision Justice
Sotomayor reaches on the court, just as I disagree with some
of her previous decisions," Collins said in a statement.
Bureau Report
