How the hearings will look amid COVID-19 pandemic
The four days of Supreme Court confirmation hearings held by the Senate Judiciary Committee will look vastly different than previous hearings because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., tested positive for the coronavirus after attending the White House Rose Garden ceremony to announce Barrett's nomination. As a result, members have the option of participating in the hearings remotely. Barrett is expected to appear in person, Lee is "undecided" and Tillis said Tuesday on Fox News that he anticipated attending some days of the hearing virtually.
On Friday, Sens. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Cory Booker, D-N.J., sent a letter to Graham demanding "stringent" testing for all those in attendance. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, tweeted that she also supported testing for members. But Graham has not responded.
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Leahy, who is 80 years old, has decided to stay away from the hearings because of Graham's failure to respond. He and Harris have said they will participate remotely as a result.
Democrats are expected to mount additional challenges to safety of the hearing's proceedings, an official confirmed to ABC News.
Masks are now a mainstay of hearings on the Hill.
Long lines of spectators snaking through the halls of the Hart Senate Office Building waiting to get a glimpse of the proceedings will also be gone as the public will not be allowed inside. Only members, Barrett's guests, staff and journalists will be permitted.
Members who do appear will do so in bursts, an official confirmed to ABC News. They may appear to question Barrett but must return to their offices to watch the remainder of the hearing from a more isolated location.
-ABC News' Allison Pecorin