Judge
Alito now serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
When he was nominated to his current seat in 1990, Judge Alito received
strong bipartisan support, and the United States Senate confirmed him by
unanimous consent. He has served on that court with distinction for 15
years, and now has more prior judicial experience than any Supreme Court
nominee in more than 70 years.
During his career on the bench, Judge Alito has participated in
thousands of appeals and authored hundreds of opinions. He has
demonstrated that he understands the proper role of a judge: to
interpret the Constitution and laws, not to impose the judge's own
preferences or priorities on the people. And in the performance of his
duties, Judge Alito's brilliance, his modesty, and his even demeanor
have gained him the respect of his colleagues and of the attorneys
appearing before him.
Prior to becoming a judge, Sam Alito served for three years as the
United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey. When President
Reagan nominated him to this position in 1987, the Senate confirmed him
by unanimous consent. As the top prosecutor in one of the nation's
largest federal districts, Sam Alito moved aggressively against
white-collar and environmental crimes, drug trafficking, organized
crime, and violations of civil rights. He showed a passionate commitment
to the rule of law, and he gained a reputation for being both tough and
fair.
Before becoming U.S. Attorney, Sam Alito served in other critical
positions in the Department of Justice. In the Office of Legal Counsel,
he provided constitutional advice for the President and the executive
branch. As Assistant to the Solicitor General, he argued 12 cases before
the Supreme Court. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, he argued dozens of
cases before the federal courts of appeals.
The son of an Italian immigrant who came to America in 1914, Sam
Alito is a product of New Jersey public schools. He was valedictorian
and student council president at Hamilton East-Steinert High School in
Hamilton, New Jersey. He went on to become a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of
Princeton University. He attended Yale Law School and was editor of the
Yale Law Journal. After graduating from law school, he was a law clerk
for a federal court of appeals judge. He has served in the Army
Reserves, where he achieved the rank of captain. Sam Alito's life has
been marked by consistent excellence and achievement, combined with
personal decency and a commitment to public service.
The United States Senate will now exercise its constitutional
responsibility to advise and consent on Judge Alito's nomination. The
process is off to a good start. Since I announced his nomination, Judge
Alito has met with many senators, and they are learning more about his
great character, accomplishments, and ability.
Our nation is fortunate to have a man of Judge Alito's intellect and
integrity willing to serve. I look forward to the Senate voting to
confirm Judge Alito as the 110th Justice of the Supreme Court of the
United States.
Thank you for listening.