For Immediate Release
January 14, 2006
President's Radio Address
Audio
In Focus: Judicial Nominations
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Last October, I was proud to nominate
Judge Sam Alito to be an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the
United States. This week, Judge Alito testified before the Senate
Judiciary Committee, and the American people saw a man of character and
intelligence. He forthrightly answered questions with grace and
composure, and showed his personal humility and legal brilliance --
qualities that have made him one of America's most accomplished and
respected judges.
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In his opening statement to the Committee, Judge Alito offered an
eloquent description of the proper role of a judge. He put it this way:
"A judge cannot have any agenda, a judge cannot have any preferred
outcome in any particular case. The judge's only obligation is to the
rule of law. In every single case, the judge has to do what the law
requires."
Judge Alito has embodied this understanding of a judge's proper role
throughout his distinguished career. He has participated in thousands
of appeals, and he has authored hundreds of opinions. His record shows
that he strictly and fairly interprets the Constitution and laws, and
does not try to legislate from the bench or impose his personal
preference on the people. As the American people saw this week, Judge
Alito always approaches the law in a thoughtful, fair, and open-minded
way.
Throughout his life, Sam Alito has demonstrated a mastery of the law,
great decency, and a strong commitment to public service. As a young
man, he wore his country's uniform in the Army Reserve, and achieved the
rank of Captain. Early in his legal career, he worked as a federal
prosecutor. As Assistant to the Solicitor General, Sam Alito argued 12
cases before the Supreme Court. He later served in the Justice
Department's Office of Legal Counsel, where he provided constitutional
advice for the President and the executive branch.
In 1987, President Reagan named Sam Alito the United States Attorney for
the District of New Jersey -- the top federal prosecutor in one of the
Nation's largest federal districts. The Senate confirmed him by
unanimous consent. In this important post, Sam Alito showed a
passionate commitment to justice and the rule of law, and earned a
reputation for being both tough and fair. He moved aggressively against
white-collar and environmental crimes, drug trafficking, organized
crime, and violations of civil rights. In 1990, President Bush
nominated Sam Alito for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third
Circuit, and the Senate once again confirmed him by unanimous consent.
He's served with distinction on that court for 15 years, and he has more
prior judicial experience than any Supreme Court nominee in more than 70
years.
Sam Alito's brilliance, integrity, and accomplishments have gained him
respect and praise from his colleagues and from attorneys across the
political spectrum. This week, fellow judges from the Third Circuit
publicly testified in support of his confirmation, and they praised his
integrity and fairness. The American Bar Association gave Judge Alito a
unanimous rating of "well-qualified" -- the ABA's highest possible
rating. The ABA concluded that Judge Alito meets "the highest
standards" of "integrity, professional competence, and judicial
temperament." In the past, leading Democratic senators have called the
ABA's rating system the "gold standard" for judicial nominees.
During this week's hearings and over the course of his career, Judge
Alito has demonstrated that he is eminently qualified to serve on our
Nation's highest court. I'm grateful to Senator Arlen Specter for his
superb work in chairing the hearings. I also thank Judge Alito's wife,
Martha, and the Alito children for their patience and dignity during the
confirmation process.
Now the Senate has a duty to give Judge Alito a prompt up-or-down vote.
I look forward to the Senate voting to confirm Sam Alito as 110th
Justice of the Supreme Court. America is fortunate to have a man of his
intellect and integrity willing to serve, and as a Justice on our
Nation's highest court, Sam Alito will make all Americans proud.
Thank you for listening.
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