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Edited on Thu Jan-19-06 08:14 PM by Autumn Colors
Well, more like a nonresponse from Joementum... Here it is, but the short version is that he doesn't have enough info about Alito. ---------------- Dear Mrs. Anderson,
Thank you for contacting me to express your views on the nomination of Circuit Court Judge Samuel Alito to fill the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy to be left by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. I appreciate your views on this serious issue, and I welcome the opportunity to respond.
Considering nominees to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court is an important responsibility entrusted by the Constitution to the United States Senate. Senators must take care to ensure that prospective appointees are not only qualified, but also capable of analyzing and applying our laws and the Constitution and deciding cases in a wise and impartial manner.
I have always taken the Senate's advice and consent role very seriously, especially when it comes to the U.S. Supreme Court; and I believe that my general desire to give the President's nominees the benefit of the doubt must be tempered by the need to maintain rigorous standards. Supreme Court Justices are appointed for life terms; barring misconduct and impeachment, once the Senate confirms them, they face few additional checks throughout their career. Each individual Senator has an obligation to make certain that he or she carefully considers each nominee and votes to confirm only if he or she believes the nominee will be able to fairly and impartially discharge their judicial duties. The courts are the ultimate guarantors of our liberties. We place our trust in them and count on smart, independent, wise judges to apply our laws within the framework of the Constitution.
The Senate has a constitutional obligation to review and, when necessary, serve as a check on the President's choices. That is what I intend to do.
I have urged the President to select a nominee who is in the mainstream of American jurisprudence, who would come to the Court without a divisive pre-determined ideological agenda and would address each case on its own merits. I do not yet know enough about Judge Alito to know whether he meets the criteria I have laid out. I take very seriously my constitutional responsibilities as a Senator to engage in a searching review and consideration of Judge Alito's fitness for this position. Please be assured that I will keep your views in mind as the Senate continues this important confirmation process.
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