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N.J.'s Lautenberg, Whitman Warmly Introduce Alito NewsMax.com Wires WASHINGTON -- Sen. Frank Lautenberg gave Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito a warm introduction to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday but declined to say how he will vote on his fellow New Jerseyan's bid for the high court. "I care to present the evidence, just the evidence, Mr. Chairman, and we'll let the record speak for itself," Lautenberg said when asked by committee Chairman Arlen Specter whether he wanted to reveal his position on Alito. Lautenberg, a Democrat, later said he is uncommitted on how he'll vote on Alito, but said he was honored to introduce the federal appeals court judge. He spoke mostly about Alito's New Jersey roots and his rise through the judicial ranks. Lautenberg also introduced Alito in 1990 when he was nominated to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Alito, a conservative jurist, would replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who has been a decisive swing vote on abortion, affirmative action and death penalty cases. Born in Trenton, N.J., Alito, 55, was raised in nearby Hamilton, and now lives in West Caldwell. Lautenberg was joined in the introduction by former Republican Gov. Christie Whitman, who called Alito a distinguished jurist and public servant. Whitman was asked to introduce Alito after Sen. Jon Corzine, who will be sworn in as New Jersey's governor next week, declined to do so, saying transition duties in Trenton prevented him from appearing. Story Continues Below
Corzine will no longer be a senator Jan. 20, when the full Senate is tentatively scheduled to vote on Alito's nomination. Rep. Robert Menendez, who is slated to be sworn in Jan. 18 to fill Corzine's term, will vote on Alito's nomination instead. Menendez, a Democrat, has said he is uncommitted. Lautenberg and Whitman were given five minutes each to introduce Alito. Lautenberg used his time to focus on Alito's beginnings as the son of an Italian immigrant father, his public school years before entering Princeton University and Yale Law School, and his long career in public service, including a stint as New Jersey's U.S. attorney from 1987 to 1990. Lautenberg added that Alito would be a relatively young justice and could serve for decades. "His decisions would affect our rights, the rights of our children, our grandchildren and other future generations," Lautenberg said. Whitman, a moderate Republican, said her decision to support Alito was not based on whether she agrees with him on issues, adding that she knows they disagree on several subjects. "While some have suggested that Judge Alito has an ideological agenda, I believe that an honest and complete review of his record, as a whole, will find that his only agenda is fidelity to his judicial craft," she said. "If Judge Alito has a bias, it's in favor of narrowly drawn opinions that respect precedent and reflect the facts before him." Whitman called Alito a "model federal appeals court judge" who has shown that he has the intellect, experience and temperament to serve on the Supreme Court. "I have every confidence that he will be a balanced, fair and thoughtful justice," Whitman said.
© 2006 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Editor's note: Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
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