My quick reaction to the July 13 timetable just announced by Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., is that Republicans probably don’t have much basis for disputing it. As Leahy’s statement details, the timetable he is using gives the Republicans about as much time as Democrats had to prepare for the hearings of John Roberts and Samuel Alito. My quick reaction to the July 13 timetable just announced by Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., is that Republicans probably don’t have much basis for disputing it. As Leahy’s statement details, the timetable he is using gives the Republicans about as much time as Democrats had to prepare for the hearings of John Roberts and Samuel Alito.

In addition, in the case of Roberts and to some extent that of Alito, it took time to obtain documents the nominees had authored as Justice Department officials during prior Republican administrations. Since Judge Sonia Sotomayor has never worked for the executive branch, it appears that all or virtually all significant documents written by her as a government official — including her judicial opinions — are already public, with the exception of her time as an assistant DA in New York City. (Internal memoranda Sotomayor has written for her colleagues or clerks while on the bench will presumably be considered confidential, as has been true of past nominees.)

Should the confirmation hearings begin according to Leahy’s schedule, it would put Sotomayor on track to be confirmed by Aug. 7 at the latest — unless Republicans stretch out the debate or filibuster.