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Mitch McConnell Expects Vote on Brett Kavanaugh Before October

Senate majority leader cites examples of previous justices

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, left, expects a vote on Brett Kavanaugh before the October Supreme Court term begins. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, left, expects a vote on Brett Kavanaugh before the October Supreme Court term begins. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Speaking in Louisville on Friday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell re-affirmed the timeline for considering the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to be an associate justice of the Supreme Court.

“The timetable typically, for recent Supreme Court Justices, if we stuck to that timetable, and I intend to, would give us an opportunity to get this new justice on the court by the 1st of October, and all of you may know that’s what’s called the October term,” McConnell told reporters back in his home state.

“So, by just taking the average amount of time that we did with the Gorsuch nomination, the Kagan nomination, the Roberts nomination, we would be able to complete this process in time for the new justice to be on the Supreme Court for the new term, in October,” he said, referring to Justices Neil Gorsuch and Elena Kagan and Chief Justice John G. Roberts. 

That largely comports with the timeline McConnell’s chief deputy, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, earlier in the week, though he peppered his example also with Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

The Texas Republican said Thursday that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh could have his confirmation vote on the floor around September 13.

“I’m just assuming that if it’s sort of in the Sotomayor, Gorsuch time frame. I think, I figured out that would be September the 13 to be confirmed. If you sort of back out the Judiciary Committee’s internal process, where you have to hold over for the hearing and then mark up and then hold over another week. That would put us in about the third week of August, is sort of what I’m guessing. That’s not official. That will have to be announced by the Chairman.”

Jennifer Shutt contributed to this report. 

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