Goddesschyyld
Jan 24, 2006, 07:30 AM
Judiciary Committee Backs Alito, 10-8
By JESSE J. HOLLAND
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Judiciary Committee recommended Tuesday Supreme Court nominee Judge Samuel Alito's confirmation to the full Senate on a 10-8 vote.
All committee Republicans voted for the nomination, saying Alito was "one of the most qualified" nominees ever. Democrats warned that he could swing the court to the right and all eight members voted against the conservative jurist's nomination.
The Senate Democrats opposed President Bush's pick to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor worried publicly that Alito might not be neutral if confirmed to the high court.
"Judge Alito's record as a professional - both as a Justice Department official and as a judge - reflects something more than a neutral judicial philosophy," said Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis. He noted that Alito has refused to call the Roe v. Wade abortion rights decision "settled law."
Alito's record "suggests a judge who has strong views on a variety of issues, and uses the law to impose those views," Kohl said.
Anti-Alito protesters holding "Oppose Alito, Save Roe" and "Stop Alito" signs lined up outside the U.S. Capitol, hoping to sway some votes as the Judiciary Committee began its meeting on Alito's nomination. Keeping with tradition, Alito was not present for the session but planned to make courtesy visits on Republican senators later in the day.
Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., the committee's chairman and an abortion rights moderate, said he would be voting for Alito after questioning him on abortion at the confirmation hearings.
"On the issue of a woman's right to choose," he said, "it is my judgment that he went as far as he could go. He emphasized the factor of stare decisis and precedents, and the reliance factor."
By JESSE J. HOLLAND
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Judiciary Committee recommended Tuesday Supreme Court nominee Judge Samuel Alito's confirmation to the full Senate on a 10-8 vote.
All committee Republicans voted for the nomination, saying Alito was "one of the most qualified" nominees ever. Democrats warned that he could swing the court to the right and all eight members voted against the conservative jurist's nomination.
The Senate Democrats opposed President Bush's pick to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor worried publicly that Alito might not be neutral if confirmed to the high court.
"Judge Alito's record as a professional - both as a Justice Department official and as a judge - reflects something more than a neutral judicial philosophy," said Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis. He noted that Alito has refused to call the Roe v. Wade abortion rights decision "settled law."
Alito's record "suggests a judge who has strong views on a variety of issues, and uses the law to impose those views," Kohl said.
Anti-Alito protesters holding "Oppose Alito, Save Roe" and "Stop Alito" signs lined up outside the U.S. Capitol, hoping to sway some votes as the Judiciary Committee began its meeting on Alito's nomination. Keeping with tradition, Alito was not present for the session but planned to make courtesy visits on Republican senators later in the day.
Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., the committee's chairman and an abortion rights moderate, said he would be voting for Alito after questioning him on abortion at the confirmation hearings.
"On the issue of a woman's right to choose," he said, "it is my judgment that he went as far as he could go. He emphasized the factor of stare decisis and precedents, and the reliance factor."