Tempers flared in the Senate Judiciary Committee today when Republicans pressed for a delay of Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings, which are slated to begin July 13.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., accused Republicans of seeking the delay at the behest of conservative groups that have been organizing a campaign to find fault with Sotomayor and scuttle her nomination. She said there were "groups out there who need more time for attacks and sound bites." Feinstein added at another point, "This is a woman who is qualified, who is brilliant, and who worked her way up."

Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., denied the allegation and took personal offense at it. "First of all I don't like having my motives questioned. ... I suggest we just cool it," he said, noting that President Obama announced Sotomayor's nomination only two weeks ago.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said Sotomayor was entitled to be confirmed at least as quickly as Chief Justice John Roberts, who appeared before the committee less than two months after being nominated. Judiciary ranking member Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said that Roberts' 2005 confirmation had to be expedited so that he could fill the vacancy left by the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist in time for the start of the court's fall term. "We don't have those pressures now," Sessions said.

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