Samuel Alito is an Associate Justice of The U.S. Supreme Court of the United States. Alito was appointed by President George W. Bush and assumed office on January 31, 2006, taking renowned "swing vote" Sandra Day O'Connor's seat on the court.
Before Supreme Court
Alito served in several positions before becoming the Associate Justice on the Supreme Court. He served on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals from 1990-2006 and was an Adjunct Professor of Law at Seton Hall University from 1999-2004.
Nomination and Confirmation
President George W. Bush nominated Alito to the Supreme Court. Alito was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 31, 2006, but not without opposition. The vote to confirm Alito was 58-42, one of the smallest margins of victory in recent Supreme Court history.NPR: Alito Confirmed as Newest Supreme Court Justice (January 31, 2006)
On the Supreme Court
While Alito is known for his conservative views, he is not the most conservative on the court, and sometimes votes with the more liberal justices.
Featured Video
References
Fast Facts
-
Born
April 1, 1950 in Trenton, New Jersey
-
Fact:
Educated at Yale Law School
-
Fact:
Took the seat on the Supreme Court on January 31, 2006
-
Fact:
Previously served on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia from 1990 to 2006
-
Fact:
Second Italian-American on the Supreme Court
-
Spouse
Martha-Ann Alito
-
The couple has two children
Philip and Laura
-
Religion
-
Alma Mater
-
Fact:
Argued his first case before the Supreme Court in 1982
-
Fact:
ACLU expressed their opposition to the nomination of Alito in 2006
