[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 24281]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          SUPREME COURT NOMINATION OF JUDGE SAMUEL ALITO, JR.

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, this morning the President of the 
United States nominated Judge Samuel Alito of the Third Circuit Court 
of Appeals to be the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. We 
are beginning to learn that Judge Alito has an extremely impressive 
career. He is an alumnus of Princeton, where he was a member of Phi 
Beta Kappa. He graduated from Yale Law School where he was editor of 
the Yale Law Journal, and he clerked for Judge Leonard Garth on the 
same court where Judge Alito now sits.
  Judge Alito has devoted his professional life to serving our country. 
He served in the U.S. Army Reserves. He served as an assistant U.S. 
attorney in the appellate division and as a U.S. Attorney for the 
District of New Jersey. He served as an assistant to the Solicitor 
General where he argued 12 cases before the Supreme Court. For the last 
15 years he served as a Federal appellate judge on the Third Circuit 
Court of Appeals.
  As the President noted this morning, Judge Alito has in fact more 
judicial experience than any Supreme Court nominee in the last 70 
years. Over the course of his outstanding career, Judge Alito has 
consistently been praised for his legal acumen. In fact, one attorney 
who appeared before him said that ``to describe Judge Alito as 
outstanding is to use understatement. He's the best judge on the 
circuit, maybe the country.''
  Judge Alito has also been praised for his calm, courteous, and 
thoughtful demeanor. I had a chance to experience that this morning 
myself when I met with him.
  Lawyers who have appeared before him describe him as measured and 
judicious. They have said he ``has a fine, nice demeanor . . . He 
couldn't have a keener demeanor'' was one observation. Another said, 
``He is never discourteous or abusive.'' Another said, ``He is 
forthright and fair.'' Another said he ``reaches honest decisions.''
  With his outstanding abilities, it is no wonder the American Bar 
Association gave Judge Alito its highest rating of unanimously well 
qualified, which means everybody on the committee found him well 
qualified. That is the highest ranking the ABA can give.
  In supporting his confirmation to the Third Circuit, our former 
colleague Senator Bill Bradley said of Judge Alito that as U.S. 
Attorney ``he had a reputation of being tough but fair. Without a lot 
of fanfare, without calling daily press conferences, he has inspired 
his office with a low key sense of professionalism.''
  Given his impressive abilities and his calm, thoughtful demeanor, it 
is also not surprising that the Senate has twice confirmed Judge Alito 
unanimously to important legal positions.
  As the confirmation process goes forward, we will learn a lot more 
about Judge Alito, but it appears the President has made a truly 
outstanding choice. I am confident the Senate will proceed on a 
bipartisan basis and in a thoughtful, measured way. We had a fair and 
dignified process for Chief Justice Roberts, and I am confident we will 
similarly have a respectful process for Judge Alito.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Alexander). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, what is the parliamentary situation?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senate is in morning business.

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