Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) anticipates that the Senate will be able to vote to confirm President Donald Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, by the end of October.
Graham laid out his timeline for the confirmation process during an appearance on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”
“So we’ll start on Oct. 12, and more than half of the Supreme Court justices who have had hearings were done within 16 days or less,” Graham said.
He added there will be a day for “introductions” and then two days for questioning by the senators. He said the part of the confirmation process that involved the Judiciary Committee will be complete by Oct. 22 so that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) can schedule a floor vote before the election.
“I will give the nomination through the committee. We’ll have a full fair hearing,” Graham said.
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Trump announced he would nominating Barrett to the court on Saturday, as IJR reported.
“It is my honor to nominate one of our nation’s most brilliant and gifted legal minds to the Supreme Court,” he said at the White House. “She is a woman of unparalleled achievement, towering intellect, sterling credentials, and unyielding loyalty to the Constitution, Judge Amy Coney Barrett.”
Republicans appear to have enough votes to confirm Barrett before the election.
If confirmed, Barrett would secure a 6-3 conservative majority on the court that could have an impact for years.
Despite the quick timeline, Graham previously said, “My hope is to be able to do it in a fashion that we cannot deviate from the norms too much.”