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January 27, 2006
Judge
Edges Closer to Confirmation
The prospects for the
confirmation of Judge Samuel Alito improved when three Democrats crossed the aisle
to support his nomination. However, other Democrats led by Sen. John Kerry of
Massachusetts are calling for a filibuster. Kwame Holman reports on the Senate
debate.
Update:
Democratic Filibuster of Alito Nomination Seems Unlikely January
24, 2006
Split
Panel Passes Alito Nomination to Full Senate
The Senate
Judiciary Committee voted along party lines Tuesday to approve Samuel Alito's
nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. Senate Republicans say Alito is the right
person to sit on the high court. But Democrats contend the 55-year-old judge and
former Reagan administration counsel will swing the court to the right and help
overturn precedent-setting rulings, such as the abortion rights case Roe v. Wade. January
19, 2006
Top
Democrat on Judiciary Committee to Vote Against Alito
Sen. Patrick Leahy, ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Thursday
that he would oppose the confirmation of Judge Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme
Court. "At a time when the president is seizing unprecedented power, the
Supreme Court needs to act as a check and to provide balance," said Leahy in a
speech at Georgetown University's law school on Thursday. "Based on the hearing
and his record, I have no confidence that Judge Alito would provide that check
and balance." Most of the other Democrats in the Senate appear certain to
vote against President Bush's choice. Only one of the Senate's 44 Democrats, Sen.
Ben Nelson of Nebraska, has publicly announced he will vote in favor of the nominee.
January 13, 2006
Democrats,
Republicans Remain Split Following Alito Hearings
Despite
more than 500 questions and 18 hours of testimony, Democrats appeared unlikely
to stop the nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court and expressed frustration
with the lack of clear responses from the judge. Columnists Mark Shields and David
Brooks assess the political landscape in the wake of the Alito hearings and the
threat of a Democratic filibuster. | 
