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Holder AG confirmation hearings delayed until January 15

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Chairman of the US Senate Judiciary Committee Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) announced Monday that confirmation hearings for Attorney General nominee Eric Holder will be delayed one week, after Republicans objected that they did not have enough time to review Holder's record. Hearings were originally scheduled to begin January 8, but will now begin January 15, following a request for more time issued last week by ranking Republican committee member Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA). Leahy expressed disappointment with the delay, saying:o accommodate the Republicans on the Judiciary Committee, at their request we are delaying the hearing, again, until January 15. ... It is disappointing to me that are insisting that we delay at a time when the nation needs its top law enforcement officer and national security team in place and working. I trust that with this additional time to prepare, they will cooperate in proceeding promptly to Committee and Senate consideration of the historic Holder nomination as Democrats did for President Bush.Also Monday, Holder returned his bipartisan questionnaire to the Judiciary Committee. After meeting with Holder last week, Leahy said that he hoped to begin the hearings as soon as the Senate reconvened in January. President-elect Barack Obama officially announced his nomination of Holder earlier this month. Holder served as Deputy US Attorney General during the Clinton administration. Republicans have criticized Holder for his role in the 2001 pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich. If confirmed by the Senate, Holder would be the first African-American to lead the Justice Department.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on December 16, 2008 (boomark / email).