Confirmation hearing for Trump's Supreme Court pick to start Oct. 12

The Senate Judiciary Committee will start its hearing for Amy Coney BarrettAmy Coney Barrett Supreme Court blocks Biden's vaccine-or-test mandate for employers Conservative justices seem skeptical of Biden vaccine mandates Congressional Progressive Caucus backs measure to expand Supreme Court MORE, President TrumpDonald Trump Kinzinger welcomes baby boy Tennessee lawmaker presents self-defense bill in 'honor' of Kyle Rittenhouse Five things to know about the New York AG's pursuit of Trump MORE's Supreme Court nominee, on Oct. 12.

The schedule will pave the way for Republicans to hold a vote on the nomination before the Nov. 3 election, setting a record for the closest date to a presidential election that a Supreme Court pick has been confirmed.

Though other nominees have been confirmed in fewer days, they were further away from the presidential election.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham

Lindsey Olin Graham Kyrsten Sinema's courage, Washington hypocrisy and the politics of rage Hillicon Valley: Amazon's Alabama union fight — take two McConnell will run for another term as leader despite Trump's attacks MORE (R-S.C.) formally announced the hearing schedule on Saturday night after Trump named Barrett as his pick to succeed the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Second gentleman Emhoff acts as public link to White House Former colleagues honor Reid in ceremony at Capitol Congressional Progressive Caucus backs measure to expand Supreme Court MORE on the Supreme Court.

The hearing is expected to last three to four days.

Graham, during the Fox News interview, indicated that he could put Barrett's nomination on the committee's business agenda for the first time on Thursday, Oct. 15. Because of committee rules, that would likely set up a committee vote for Thursday, Oct. 22.

"We'll start on the 12th, we'll have four days of hearings and then we'll hold over the nomination for a week ... and hopefully we'll come to the floor around the 26th,” Graham said.

Justices Neil GorsuchNeil Gorsuch Sotomayor, Gorsuch issue statement denying tensions over masks Steve Bannon's Supreme Court? The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Schumer tees up doomed election reform vote MORE and Brett KavanaughBrett Michael Kavanaugh Supreme Court seems wary of Boston's refusal to allow flying of Christian flag Voting rights, Trump's Big Lie, and Republicans' problem with minorities Supreme Court agrees to hear case on HS coach's suspension over on-field prayers MORE, Trump's first two Supreme Court nominees, both had nearly two months between their formal nominations and the start of their hearings.

Under the schedule set by Graham, Barrett will have little more than two weeks.

Graham pledged that he would hold the hearings early enough that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Democrats make final plea for voting rights ahead of filibuster showdown Mellman: Voting rights or the filibuster? Budowsky: To Dems: Run against the do-nothing GOP, Senate MORE (R-Ky.) would be able to hold a vote on the Senate floor before Nov. 3. Graham's schedule would set up a floor vote for the final week of October.

"We've got the votes to confirm Justice Ginsburg's replacement before the election. We're going to move forward in the committee. We're going to report the nomination out of the committee to the floor of the United States Senate so we can vote before the election," Graham told Fox News earlier this month.

Barrett's confirmation hearings are expected to follow a similar schedule to previous nominees, meaning it will last a total of four days: one for opening statements, two for questions and one for outside experts, the source confirmed.

The hearings will give Democrats their one public opportunity to grill her on a host of issues such as health care and a looming Supreme Court case that could decide the fate of the Affordable Care Act.

But they are powerless to stop Barrett's nomination on their own. Barrett's nomination for her seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit was approved by the Judiciary Committee in 2017 along party lines, and every Republican supported her.

No Judiciary Committee Republican has signaled they have reservations about Barrett, and Graham predicted earlier this month that she would get the support of every GOP senator on the panel. GOP members of the Judiciary Committee have met in the Capitol this week to talk about strategy and timing.

"We're going to have a process that you will be proud of. The nominee is going to be supported by every Republican in the Judiciary Committee. And we've got the votes to confirm the ... justice on the floor of the Senate before the election, and that's what is coming," Graham told Fox News.

Updated 9:52 p.m.