    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [October 31, 2005]
    [Pages 1628-1629]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Announcing the Nomination of Samuel A. Alito, Jr., To Be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of
    the United States
    October 31, 2005

        Good morning. I'm pleased to announce my nomination of Judge Samuel
    A. Alito, Jr., as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United
    States. Judge Alito is one of the most accomplished and respected judges
    in America, and his long career in public service has given him an
    extraordinary breadth of experience.
        As a Justice Department official, Federal prosecutor, and judge on
    the United States Court of Appeals, Sam Alito has shown a mastery of the
    law, a deep commitment of justice, and a--and he is a man of enormous
    character. He's scholarly, fair-minded, and principled, and these
    qualities will serve our Nation well on the highest Court of the land.
        Judge Alito showed great promise from the beginning in studies at
    Princeton and Yale Law School, as editor of the Yale Law Journal, as a
    clerk for a Federal court of appeals judge. He served in the Army
    Reserves and was honorably discharged as a captain. Early in his career,
    Sam Alito worked as a Federal prosecutor and handled criminal and civil
    matters for the United States. As assistant to the Solicitor General, he
    argued 12 cases before the Supreme Court and has argued dozens of others
    before the Federal courts of appeals.
        He served in the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel,
    providing constitutional advice for the President and the executive
    branch. In 1987, President Ronald Reagan named him the United States
    Attorney for the District of New Jersey, the top prosecutor in one of
    the Nation's largest Federal districts, and he was confirmed by
    unanimous consent by the Senate. He moved aggressively against white-
    collar and environmental crimes and drug trafficking and organized crime
    and violation of civil rights.
        In his role, Sam Alito showed a passionate commitment to the rule of
    law, and he gained a reputation for being both tough and fair. In 1990,
    President Bush nominated Sam Alito, at the
    age of 39, for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
    Judge Alito's nomination received bipartisan support, and he was again
    confirmed by unanimous consent by the United States Senate. Judge Alito
    has served with distinction on that court for 15 years and now has more
    prior judicial experience than any Supreme Court nominee in more than 70
    years.
        Judge Alito's reputation has only grown over the span of his
    service. He has participated in thousands of appeals and authored
    hundreds of opinions. This record reveals a thoughtful judge who
    considers the legal matter--merits carefully and applies the law in a
    principled fashion. He has a deep understanding of the proper role of
    judges in our society. He understands that judges are to interpret the
    laws, not to impose their preferences or priorities on the people.
        In the performance of his duties, Judge Alito has gained the respect
    of his colleagues and attorneys for his brilliance and decency. He's won
    admirers across the political spectrum. I'm confident that the United
    States Senate will be impressed by Judge Alito's distinguished record,
    his measured judicial temperament, and his tremendous personal
    integrity. And I urge the Senate to act promptly on this important
    nomination so that an up-or-down vote is held before the end of this
    year.
        Today Judge Alito is joined by his wife, Martha, who was a law librarian when he first met her. Sam and I
    both know you can't go wrong marrying a librarian. Sam and Martha's two
    children, Phil and Laura, are also with us, and I know how proud

    [[Page 1629]]

    you are of your dad today. I'm sure as well that Judge Alito is thinking
    of his mom, Rose, who will be 91 in December. And
    I know he's thinking about his late father; Samuel Alito, Sr., came to
    this country as an immigrant child from Italy in 1914, and his fine
    family has realized the great promise of our country.
        Judge, thanks for agreeing to serve, and congratulations on your
    nomination.

    Note: The President spoke at 8:01 a.m. in the Cross Hall at the White
    House. The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also
    included the remarks of Associate Justice-designate Alito. The Office of
    the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of these
    remarks.