[JURIST] US Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) [official website] said Tuesday after a meeting with Attorney General nominee Michael B. Mukasey [WH fact sheet; PBWT profile] that the Senate will likely approve Mukasey without undue delay. Mukasey's confirmation hearings before the Judiciary Committee are scheduled to begin Wednesday [JURIST report; hearing notice]. Mukasey is expected to face questions on controversial issues including the US Attorney firings scandal [JURIST news archive], the investigation of alleged election crimes, the executive use of secrecy and expansion of power, and his willingness to share materials related to Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) [text; JURIST news archive] investigations.

President George W. Bush formally nominated [JURIST report] Mukasey on September 17 to replace former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales [JURIST news archive], who submitted his resignation [JURIST report] in August. AP has more.