Washington ? Two members of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, a former U.S. attorney general and the mayor of Juneau, Alaska, will be among people expected to speak in favor of Supreme Court nominee John Roberts’ candidacy at the Senate Judiciary Committee next week, officials said Thursday.

Judiciary Republicans released a tentative list of people they invited to speak about President Bush’s nominee to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, as Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer, of New York, implored Roberts to answer difficult questions instead of avoiding key issues.

Thirty people are scheduled to testify before the committee after senators finish questioning him – 15 invited by Republicans and 15 by Democrats.

The Democrats have not yet released their list, but included on the Republican side are Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho, National Collegiate Athletic Association lawyer Elsa Cole and U.S. Civil Rights commissioners Jennifer Braceras and Peter Kirsanow. Committee aides announced late Thursday that Dick Thornburgh would testify, rather than fellow former attorney general William Barr, as had been previously announced.