U.S.A.: Judiciary Committee to start Miers confirmation hearings Nov. 7

Confirmation hearings for White House counsel Harriet Miers, President George W. Bush's choice to succeed Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court, will begin the first week of November. Sen. Tom Coburn said the decision to start the hearings on Nov. 7 was passed on to Republican Judiciary Committee members by Sen. Arlen Specter.

Specter would not confirm the date after leaving the meeting, saying he would have a news conference later Wednesday to announce the date, the AP reports.

Democrats have been pushing to start the hearing later in the month, saying there is no need to rush the White House counsel's confirmation since Justice Sanda Day O'Connor has promised to stay on the court until her replacement is approved by the Senate. A.M.