Archive: January 29, 2006 - February 04, 2006
Alito's First Day
Gina Holland of AP reports: Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito split with the court's conservatives in a death penalty case on his first day on the court. Handling his first case, Alito sided with five other justices Wednesday evening in refusing to allow Missouri to execute inmate Michael Taylor. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas supported lifting the an execution stay issued by an appeals court, but Alito sided with the majority in turning down Missouri's last-minute request to allow a midnight execution....
By Fred Barbash | February 2, 2006; 5:40 AM ET | Comments (26)
Swearing In at the White House
Justice Samuel Alito was officially sworn in yesterday at the Supreme Court. But today the ceremonial swearing in was held at the White House, with President Bush and a number of government officials in attendance. Here is the official White House transcript of comments by Bush and Alito:...
By Lexie Verdon | February 1, 2006; 5:23 PM ET | Comments (13)
Video: Alito Sworn in at White House
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By washingtonpost.com Editors | February 1, 2006; 5:22 PM ET | Comments (1)
New Circuit Assignments for Justices
The Supreme Court, in this order, has reshuffled the circuits among the justices as follows: District of Columbia Circuit--Chief Justice Roberts First Circuit--Justice Souter. Second Circuit--Justice Ginsburg Third Circuit--Justice Souter Fourth Circuit--CJ Roberts Fifth Circuit-Justice Scalia Sixth Circuit-Justice Stevens Seventh Circuit--Justice Stevens Eighth Circuit--Justice Alito Ninth Circuit--Justice Kennedy Tenth Circuit--Justice Breyer Eleventh Circuit--Justice Thomas Federal Circuit--CJ Roberts The circuit justice receives and decides emergency petitions--for such matters as stays of execution--from his or her assigned circuit. Click here for a map of the circuits....
By Fred Barbash | February 1, 2006; 12:38 PM ET | Comments (58)
President's Statement
The White House released this statement by President Bush after the Senate vote: I am pleased that the Senate has voted to confirm Judge Sam Alito as the 110th Justice of the Supreme Court. Sam Alito is a brilliant and fair-minded judge who strictly interprets the Constitution and laws and does not legislate from the bench. He is a man of deep character and integrity, and he will make all Americans proud as a Justice on our highest court. The son of an Italian immigrant, Judge Alito's appointment to the Supreme Court is the realization of the American dream for this good man and his family. I congratulate Judge Alito, his wife Martha, the Alito children, and Judge Alito's mother Rose on this historic achievement and momentous day in the life of our country. Judge Alito replaces Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Justice O'Connor was the first woman ever to sit...
By Lexie Verdon | January 31, 2006; 2:05 PM ET | Comments (49)
Alito Sworn In
The Associated Press reports: Samuel Anthony Alito Jr. was sworn in as the nation's 110th Supreme Court justice on Tuesday after being confirmed by the Senate in one of the most partisan victories in modern history. Alito was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts in a private ceremony at the Supreme Court building across from the Capitol at about 12:40 p.m. EST, court officials said. Alito and his wife, Martha-Ann Bomgardner, along with other members of the court and their spouses, attended the ceremony in the justices' conference room. The 55-year-old New Jersey jurist took both the constitutional and judicial oaths so he can immediately participate in court decisions. Alito will be ceremonially sworn in a second time at a White House East Room appearance on Wednesday....
By Lexie Verdon | January 31, 2006; 2:02 PM ET | Comments (3)
Alito Confirmed
Samuel A. Alito Jr., has been confirmed as associate justice of the Supreme Court by a 58 to 42 vote.Every Republican except Sen. Lincoln Chafee (D-RI) voted for confirmation.Democrats voting for confirmation were Robert C. Byrd (W. Va.), Kent Conrad (N.D.), Ben Nelson (Neb) and Tim Johnson (S.D.)Independent Jeffords voted noRoll Call below (There were some technical problems with the first roll call version, for which I apologize)...
By Fred Barbash | January 31, 2006; 10:47 AM ET | Comments (183)
The Roberts Court
The Senate is expected to confirm Samuel A. Alito, Jr., as associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in a vote that begins at 11 a.m. Alito replaces retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who joined the court in 1981. Alito is expected to be sworn in later today. Assuming Alito's confirmation, here is the new Supreme Court of the United States, in order of seniority: John Paul Stevens--Appointed by Gerald Ford. Confirmed on 12/17/75 by a vote of 98-0. Antonin Scalia--Appointed by Ronald Reagan. Confirmed 9/17/86 by a vote of 98-0. Anthony Kennedy--Appointed by Reagan. Cofnfirmed on 2/11/88 by a vote of 97-0. David H. Souter--Appointed by George H.W. Bush. Confirmed on 10/02/90 by a vote of 90-9. Clarence Thomas--Appointed by George H.W. Bush. Confirmed on 10/15/91 by a vote...
By Fred Barbash | January 31, 2006; 10:31 AM ET | Comments (10)
Kennedy Seen as The Next Justice In Court's Middle--The Washington Post
By Charles Lane "Alito's arrival...may turn the O'Connor Court into the Kennedy Court. If, as many expect, Alito forms a four-vote conservative bloc with Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, that would leave Justice Anthony M. Kennedy -- a conservative who has occasionally voted with liberals on gay rights, the death penalty and abortion -- as the court's least predictable member."...
By Fred Barbash | January 31, 2006; 3:31 AM ET | Comments (12)
Senate to Vote On Alito Today-The Washington Post
By Charles Babington "Republican senators, aided by 19 Democrats, cleared the path yesterday for Samuel A. Alito Jr. to join the Supreme Court and for President Bush to put his stamp firmly on the nine-member bench. The Senate voted 72 to 25 to end debate on Alito's nomination and to allow a roll call on his confirmation today, shortly before noon. Alito's supporters garnered a dozen more votes than the 60 they needed to choke off a Democratic filibuster effort, which would have allowed debate to continue indefinitely. Leaders of both parties said Alito, 55, will comfortably win confirmation today, although not by the 78 to 22 margin that Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. received last fall."...
By Fred Barbash | January 31, 2006; 3:29 AM ET | Comments (8)
Roll Call of the Cloture Vote
The Associated Press tallied the 72-25 vote: On this vote, a "yes" vote was a vote to end the debate and a "no" vote was a vote to filibuster the nomination. Voting "yes" were 19 Democrats and 53 Republicans. Voting "no" were 24 Democrats and one independent.!...
By Lexie Verdon | January 30, 2006; 6:12 PM ET | Comments (150)
Alito Debate Halted on 72-25 vote; Confirmation Expected Tomorrow
The Senate, overcoming a symbolic filibuster attempt by Massacusetts Democrats Sens. John F. Kerry and Edward M. Kennedy, voted to end debate on the nomination of Samuel A. Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court.The vote was 72 to end debate and 25 to continue. Sixty votes were required to end discussion. A vote by simple majority to confirm in the full Senate is expected about 11:00 a.m. tomorrow, with a swearing-in to follow shortly, possibly allowing Alito to attend the State of the Union Address as Justice Alito. The filibuster today was a gesture, not a traditional talkathon, as the speakers were well aware that they would not have the votes to continue and spoke relatively briefly on the floor....
By Fred Barbash | January 30, 2006; 5:03 PM ET | Comments (167)
Alito Cloture Vote Underway In Senate
The Senate is now voting on a motion to cut off debate on the nomination of Samuel J. Alito Jr., to the Supreme Court. If, as expected, it passes with the necessary 60 votes, the confirmation vote will take place tomorrow at 11 a.m....
By Fred Barbash | January 30, 2006; 4:43 PM ET | Comments (39)
Fourth Democrat To Vote for Alito, Cloture Vote Close
A fourth Democrat has announced support for Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito. North Dakota Senator Kent Conrad says he made his decision after reviewing Alito’s record and holding two meetings with him. The Senate is closing in on a key vote that both Republicans and Democrats say Alito will win. His supporters are expected to get more than the 60 votes needed to defeat a filibuster effort. Rhode Island Senator Lincoln Chafee says he will vote against the filibuster. But he also says he’ll vote against confirming Alito, becoming the first Republican to announce plans to do so. Chafee describes himself as “pro-choice and pro-environment” and believes Alito might be willing to give too much power to the president.Associated Press...
By Fred Barbash | January 30, 2006; 3:50 PM ET | Comments (59)
Chafee to Vote Against Alito--AP
The Associated Press reports: Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island announced Monday that he would vote against Samuel Alito's Supreme Court confirmation. He is the only member of the Republican Party so far to announce that he will vote against the conservative judge. (Click here to read Chafee's statement.) Chafee's announcement came as liberal Democrats waged an eleventh-hour attempt Monday to block Alito's confirmation, calling on senators to try to stall the judge's nomination before he becomes the 110th justice on the highest U.S. court and tilts it further to the right. "I think he is the wrong judge at the wrong time in the wrong place," said Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., a longtime liberal stalwart. "I do not believe he is going to be part of the whole movement of the continued march towards progress in this country."...
By Fred Barbash | January 30, 2006; 12:26 PM ET | Comments (33)
Filibuster Vote Set for 4:30
The Senate is expected to vote on cutting off debate on the Alito nomination at about 4:30 this afternoon, clearing the way for a confirmation vote tomorrow, in time for the State of the Union speech. ...
By Fred Barbash | January 30, 2006; 12:18 PM ET | Comments (22)
Alito Set to Clear Filibuster Hurdle
Both Republicans and Democrats say Judge Samuel Alito today will clear the final hurdle before he is confirmed to the Supreme Court. Senators said Alito has the 60 Senate votes needed to derail a filibuster effort by two Democratic senators--John Kerry and Edward M. Kennedy, both of Massachusetts. They want to block a final vote on Alito's nomination, saying he is out of the mainstream and will roll back many of the rights Americans now have....
By Fred Barbash | January 30, 2006; 5:31 AM ET | Comments (41)
Effort to Block Alito Vote Today Given Little Chance-AP
By Hope Yen " To more effectively oppose Supreme Court nominees in the future, Democrats need to convince the public 'their values are at stake' rather than use stalling tactics to try to thwart the president, said a senator who opposes Samuel Alito's confirmation.Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., predicted on Sunday that an effort to try to block a final vote on Alito would fail on Monday. That would clear the way for Senate approval Tuesday of the federal appeals court judge picked to succeed the retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor."...
By Fred Barbash | January 30, 2006; 3:20 AM ET | Comments (8)
