6 things to watch for as Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation hearings begin Monday

(CNN) — Amy Coney Barrett’s fast-track Supreme Court confirmation goes before the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday as the raucous fight over Barrett’s nomination spills into public view for a week’s worth of hearings.

The hearings represent Democrats’ best chance to poke holes in Barrett’s record and try to cast doubt on President Donald Trump’s nominee in the minds of Republicans — or if that’s not possible, at least score political points on health care three weeks before the election. The stakes are high for a surprise confirmation fight following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg that has the potential to shift the ideological makeup of the court for a generation, and the tensions are a powder keg on all sides.

But as the recent coronavirus outbreak from the White House shows — which infected two members of the Judiciary Committee, throwing the confirmation process into doubt — the rapid timeline Republicans have traced leaves little margin for error.

For Republicans, a smooth hearing will put Barrett on the glide path to be confirmed before Election Day over the fierce objections of Democrats, who charge the GOP is using a double standard after refusing to consider President Barack Obama’s nominee in 2016.

Opening statements from senators and Barrett are scheduled for Monday, with lawmakers questioning Barrett on Tuesday and Wednesday. Outside witnesses for and against the nominee will testify Thursday.

Here’s what to watch for during the hearings this week:

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