Four days after Harriet Miers withdrew her nomination for the Supreme Court, President Bush chose a nominee that conservative Christians are supporting.
At the Cross Hall in the White House on Monday morning, Bush said "I'm pleased to announce my nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr., as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Judge Alito is one of the most accomplished and respected judges in America, and his long career in public service has given him an extraordinary breadth of experience."
Christian conservatives from the National Clergy Council to Concerned Woman for America (CWA) agree with Bush and have made their statements saying that he is the right candidate to join the other Supreme Court justices on the bench.
"From what we know, Judge Alito has a proven track record of respect for the original intent of the framers of the constitution when it comes to the sanctity of life, the sanctity of marriage, and the public acknowledgement of God," Rev. Rob Schenck said on behalf of the National Clergy Council.
Alito's experiences range from being a judge for the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit for the past fifteen years, and as a former U.S. Attorney General, unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate, for the district of New Jersey.
The 55-year old judge has argued numerous cases involving such issues as abortion, discrimination, and religious display, twelve of which were before the Supreme Court.
In 1991, he was the only dissenter in the case, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which threw out a Pennsylvania law that required women seeking abortions to notify their husbands, a ruling that was later upheld by the Supreme Court that affirmed the right to have an abortion.
Democrats are concerned that his confirmation will swing the court too far to the right and are preparing for a filibuster.
"There is no question he is a conservative," Senate Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota) told the Associated Press. "I would leave all…options on the table."
While other democrats said they are still unsure about how he will rule, and for the meantime, they will not support a filibuster.
CWA's Chief Counsel Jan LaRue said, "Judge Alito has always been one of our top choices for the Supreme Court. He has all the qualifications needed: intellect, knowledge and experience in constitutional law, integrity, competence, humility and judicial temperament."
If he is confirmed, he will replace the retiring Justice Sandra Day O' Connor, known as the court's swing vote, as the nation's 110th justice.
The Liberty Counsel praised Bush for keeping his campaign promise for choosing Supreme Court nominees in the conservative mold of Justice Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.
Mathew D. Staver, president of liberty counsel said, "We applaud the President for keeping his campaign promise to nominate candidates to the Supreme Court who respect the rule of law and will decide cases on a principled basis…. Judge Alito's record makes it clear that he respects the proper role of the Supreme Court."
At the White House, Judge Alito showed his "reverence" for the position on the Supreme Court and talked about his role as a federal judge for the past fifteen years.
Alito said, "I have been mindful of the solemn responsibility that goes with service as a federal judge, who have the duty to interpret the Constitution and the laws faithfully and fairly…and to do these things with care and with restraint, always keeping in mind the limited role that the courts play in our constitutional system."
"I pledge that if confirmed I will do everything within my power to fulfill that responsibility," Alito said. "I look forward to working with the Senate in the confirmation process."
