Washington ? Confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee John Roberts will begin the day after Labor Day, but Senate Democrats say the White House must release more documents to ensure he’s wearing a justice’s black robes before the new term begins in October.

“There is no reason why the date cannot be met, but we need the full cooperation of the administration,” Sen. Patrick Leahy, the Judiciary Committee’s top Democrat, said Friday.

President Bush officially nominated Roberts as the replacement for retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on Friday, and Senate Republicans later announced that confirmation hearings would begin Sept. 6.

The announcement, however, did not come until after Democrats agreed not to delay Roberts’ nomination in committee and not to block the confirmation hearings through procedural maneuvers on the Senate floor.