Confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Nominee Alito to start this week

January 9, 2006

President Bush's highly controversial nominee to fill the seat of retiring Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor will have a chance to respond to congressional questions this week, with hearings scheduled for him to appear before the senate Judiciary Committee.

The 55 year old Samuel Alito has served as a federal appeals court judge for 15 years, and previously served as a lawyer for the Reagan administration.

His lengthy track record of more than 700 judicial opinions includes several writings on abortion-rights, among other issues, including states’ rights, first amendment rights, police rights, and the separation of church and state.