As expected, the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning delayed the panel vote of Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation to the Supreme Court one week, until 10 a.m. on July 28. Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., used the brief moments in which the committee convened today to urge a quick confirmation.

"We all know that Judge Sotomayor will be confirmed," Leahy said. "I hope that once she's passed out of this committee, there will be no delay on the floor because she will have very, very few weeks after being confirmed to move to Washington, to set up her law clerks, set up her office and prepare for a major case on the McCain-Feingold bill on September 9."

Leahy was referring to Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, a case examining whether the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act -- commonly known as the McCain-Feingold bill -- applies to a 2008 documentary that was highly critical of then-presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. In a rare move, the Supreme Court decided at the end of its 2008 term to rehear arguments in this case on Sept. 9, even though its 2009 term doesn't start until the first week in October. "A delay will not help either Sotomayor or the Supreme Court," Leahy concluded.

Ranking member Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said that the GOP has "tried to fulfill our responsibility without any unnecessary delay."

Also as expected, Republican Susan Collins of Maine announced this morning her intent to vote for Sotomayor, becoming the sixth senator -- and fourth Republican -- to do so.

"I know that I will not agree with every decision Justice Sotomayor reaches on the court, just as I disagree with some of her previous decisions," Collins said in a statement. "However, upon reading these decisions, talking personally with her, and hearing her responses to probing questions, I have concluded that Judge Sotomayor understands the proper rule of a judge and is committed to applying the law impartially without bias or favoritism."