Judge Alito's Opening Statement

National Review Online, Bench Memos ^ | 1/9/2006 | Wendy Long

[saveliberty]

Judge Alito's Opening Statement
[Wendy Long  01/09 05:09 PM]

It was masterful, sincere, perfect. He spoke for 11 minutes — twice as long as Chief Justice Roberts — with no notes. He paid tribute to Justice O'Connor. He paid tribute to his parents: that “I am who I am” — because of them. He spoke of how parents teach even more powerfully through their deeds than their words.

He spoke of his father, an Italian immigrant, made it to college through perseverance and the kindness of others, then served in the Pacific in World War II, became a teacher, and worked for the New Jersey legislature. It was a story, he said, about “the opportunities this country offers.”

He spoke of how his mother, from a culture where women had remained in the house, was the first person in her family to go to college.

He introduced his own children with pride, as well as his sister, his wife, and her parents.

He spoke beautifully about how when he became a judge, he stopped being a lawyer. This powerful lesson about the difference between the role of advocate and the role of judge is central to what divides Senators over his nomination, and the more Americans understand this, the more they will know Judge Alito is correct.

When Judge Alito put on his black robes 15 years ago, his obligation was no longer to any client, he explained: he has no preferred outcome or client in any case. A judge, he said, has only a “solemn obligation to the rule of law.”

He spoke of the “habits of mind” that good judges develop, like delaying a decision until he has examined every bit of information. He said plainly: “no person in this country is above the law, and no person is beneath it.”. (Note: This is what “equal justice under law” means, Senator Kennedy.)

The humility, dedication, and civility that came through Judge Alito's opening statement was a quiet but powerful refutation of the Kennedy extremism and distortion.

Combined with the strong introduction by Christie Whitman, it was a great first day.

[Peach]

Kennedy, who got kicked out of Harvard for cheating and subsequently graduated last in his class has pickled whatever was left of his brain.

[saveliberty]

Or his more recent achievements, which include an appearance sans culottes. And let's not forget his behavior with Senator Dodd at La Brasserie restaurant.

[peyton randolph]

This is what “equal justice under law” means, Senator Kennedy.

Mary Jo Kopechne could not be reached for comment.

[Peach]

The sandwich :-)

[Riptides]

Judge Alito is a fine man and should not have to listen to garbage like Schmuk Schumer or drunk murderers like Ted "The Swimmer" Kennedy insult his integrity during the confirmation hearings. It amazes me that people vote for trash like that.
God bless you, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.

[saveliberty]

No question about it.

[saveliberty]

The poor waitress.

[saveliberty]

Agreed.

More opinion

http://bench.nationalreview.com/archives/086490.asp

[sgtbono2002]

It amazes me that a person with a record of Ted Kennedy have the unmitigated gall to stand before an honest man and intimate the things Chuck and Fat Ted intimate.

[TLI]

"no person in this country is above the law"

Unless of course, it's immigration laws...

[saveliberty]

Immigration law? Check this out

http://corner.nationalreview.com/06_01_08_corner-archive.asp#086601

PS MA votes today on whether to have a veto proof vote authorizing special benefits for illegal aliens.

[TLI]

PS MA votes today on whether to have a veto proof vote authorizing special benefits for illegal aliens.

What a bunch of pinheads. I suppose they believe they will get the "hispanic vote" Yea, right. It's a myth.

[saveliberty]

Sorry. It's a legislative vote. A friend of mine called me up to ask me if I would complain. I told her, why should I? Margaret Marshall is going to rule it in anyway.