[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.