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 of 52-48.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg--Appointed by Bill Clinton. Confirmed 8/5/93 by a vote of 97-3.
Stephen G. Breyer--Appointed by Clinton. Confirmed 8/2/94 by a vote of 87-9.
John G. Roberts--Appointed Chief Justice by George W. Bush. Confirmed 9/29/05 by a 78-22.
Samuel A. Alito--Appointed by Bush. Confirmed 1/31/06 by a 58-42 vote.
By Fred Barbash |
January 31, 2006; 10:31 AM ET
| Category:
Alito Nomination
Previous: Kennedy Seen as The Next Justice In Court's Middle--The Washington Post |
Next: Alito Confirmed
Posted by: RD | January 31, 2006 11:04 AM
Chafee voted NO; No lock-step is he.
Posted by: | January 31, 2006 11:37 AM
That's now THREE top lawmakers appointed by Bush that are on the big bench! Note that Tony Scalia's vote was 98 to 0. Ditto Stevens and Kennedy were winner take all. Gone are the days!
Posted by: samtheoldaccordianman | January 31, 2006 12:22 PM
Wow 42 No's for ? ...
The Senate review/vote process for the last two nominees is abhorrent. The review of nominees (especially lifetime) by an elected body is necessary in the matters of criminal and ethical questions, but politics...bbbfffllllttttttt.
Posted by: Bart | January 31, 2006 02:30 PM
Yahbut. Alito is in. It's not how close the score. It's the winning. Just like sports.
Posted by: samtheoldaccordianman | January 31, 2006 04:08 PM
I don't understand why the Senate voted on this nominee with the news that our President had authorized illegal wiretaps. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) was passed by Congress for a very specific reason--to prevent illegal wiretapping and to provide reasonable procedures so that our Executive branch can secure our homeland. I wait anxiously for the Bush's administrations reasons for breaking the law. I encourage Americans to review the history of FISA, which is riddled with exemptions to allow for protection of our national security.
No one is above the law. The Congress was wrong to vote on the Alito nominee before fully investigating the President's spy program.
Spencer Hanes
Winston-Salem, NC
Posted by: Spencer Hanes | January 31, 2006 07:18 PM
I don't understand why the Senate voted on this nominee with the news that our President had authorized illegal wiretaps. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) was passed by Congress for a very specific reason--to prevent illegal wiretapping and to provide reasonable procedures so that our Executive branch can secure our homeland. I wait anxiously for the Bush's administrations reasons for breaking the law. I encourage Americans to review the history of FISA, which is riddled with exemptions to allow for protection of our national security.
No one is above the law. The Congress was wrong to vote on the Alito nominee before fully investigating the President's spy program.
Spencer Hanes
Winston-Salem, NC
Posted by: Spencer Hanes | January 31, 2006 07:19 PM
An article in the current Economist remarks on the Catholic nature of the Court, five Catholics out of nine judges.
The article suggests that this may be less a sign of Catholic strength than of Catholic weakness. If Catholics were really Catholics most Americans would not stand for so many on the Court, traditional Catholicism being the most hated idelogy in American history.
Catholics have become, it is argued, so much like everyone else that it doesn't matter how many are on the court.
I think I agree. But a better sign of Catholic weakness is the fact that Catholics flocked to read The DaVinci Code and will flock to see the movie. The Catholics have as much suspicion about their church as others do , perhaps even more suspicion. They doubt its morality, its fiscal propriety, its crazy doctrines, and its evil history.
Posted by: candide | February 1, 2006 11:15 AM
Candide: Does your anti-Catholic venom apply to Jews and blacks as well? You are a loathsome bigot. And most likely also a demobrat.
Posted by: samtheoldaccordianman | February 1, 2006 02:12 PM
Technically, that list of justices by seniority is incorrect - the Chief Justice is automatically senior to the other eight justices.
Posted by: Jeff | February 1, 2006 04:26 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Wow. Baucus voted aye.