Leahy Announces Hearing Schedule

For Attorney General Confirmation Proceedings

  

WASHINGTON (Tuesday, Dec. 9) -- Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday announced that confirmation proceedings for Eric Holder, President-elect Barack Obama’s designee to be Attorney General, will begin January 8, 2009. 

 

President-elect Obama announced his intention to nominate Holder to the top position in the Justice Department on Dec. ,1 after weeks of reports concerning that likelihood.  Following a Monday meeting with Holder, Leahy announced his intention to begin hearings in early January. 

 

“I have scheduled Mr. Holder’s hearing to begin on January 8,” Leahy said.  “While I had hoped to begin Mr. Holder’s confirmation hearings on January 7, I have accommodated the Ranking Member and members of the Committee who will be attending a Republican Senate caucus retreat on that day. 

 

“President-elect Obama has shown great care in his Cabinet selections, and his early announcement of Mr. Holder’s designation should lead to prompt consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate. The American people and our justice system need our constructive engagement and the installation of the new leadership of the Justice Department without delay. ”

 

The hearing will begin Thursday, January 8, 2009, at 9:30 a.m. in room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building.  The hearing will also be webcast live online through the Senate Judiciary Committee website:  http://judiciary.senate.gov/.
 

NOTICE OF COMMITTEE HEARING

The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a hearing on the nomination of Eric H. Holder Jr. to be Attorney General of the United States for Thursday, January 8, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. in Room 216 of the Senate Hart Office Building.

 

By order of the Chairman 

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