Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Alito's confirmation marks new era for court
By Mark Stefanski
The Daily Princetonian (Princeton)
02/06/2006

(U-WIRE) PRINCETON, N.J. — Samuel Alito, Princeton University class of '72, was sworn in as the 110th justice of the Supreme Court Feb. 1 after being confirmed by the Senate last week. Alito, the tenth alumnus to hold a seat on the high court and the first since 1955, is widely expected to tip the already conservative-leaning court further to the right.

The 58-42 Senate vote fell largely along party lines, with four Democrats — Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Kent Conrad of North Dakota and Ben Nelson of Nebraska — breaking from their party ranks to support Alito. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island was the sole Republican to vote against him.

The vote came after a Democratic attempt to mount a filibuster was defeated Jan. 30, when the Senate voted 72-25 to end debate.

Alito's final tally fell well short of Chief Justice John Roberts' 78 positive votes. Democrats resisted Alito's replacement of retiring justice Sandra Day O'Connor, a moderate conservative who often tempered the court's rulings on issues such as abortion.

O'Connor is "a national icon who has been a voice of reason and moderation on the court," Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said before the vote. "This president has no mandate to move this Supreme Court and American law in a radical rightward direction. This is just what Alito's replacement of O'Connor will do."

Democrats' other longstanding reservations included Alito's alleged deference to executive power, his 1985 denial of a constitutional basis for abortion rights and his membership in the conservative group Concerned Alumni of Princeton, which critics say opposed the admission of women and minorities to the University.

But Republicans touted the nominee's credentials and intellect, arguing that Democrats were trying to block a well-qualified judge.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said Jan. 31: "There's no doubt about his qualification in terms of education, professional career and his service on the court of appeals, and we have seen in the long history of the court that there's no way to determine in advance how a nominee is going to vote."

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