News[JURIST] US Supreme Court nominee John Roberts [Wikipedia profile] will begin facing Senate Judiciary Committee questions September 6, congressional officials said Friday. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) [official website], chairman of the Committee, is expected to officially announce the date later in the day but anonymous Republican sources told AP the date had already been finalized. Republicans had considered starting the hearings prior to the end of the Senate's scheduled monthlong summer recess on August 29 but decided a start date in early September would provide sufficient time [JURIST report] to confirm Roberts before the court starts its new term October 3. AP has more.
