Accessibility links
Alito's Supreme Court Nomination Confirmed President Bush's conservative nominee to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court wins confirmation Tuesday. The Senate voted 58-42 to confirm Samuel Alito, with all but one of the Senate's majority Republicans backing the nomination.
thumbnail
Special Series

Alito's Supreme Court Nomination Confirmed

The Senate votes 58-42 to confirm Samuel Alito as the nation's 110th Supreme Court justice.

Alito Confirmed as Newest Supreme Court Justice

After a 58-42 vote in the Senate to confirm his nomination, Samuel Alito is sworn in as the Supreme Court's 110th justice. It was one of the smallest margins of victory in recent history for a Supreme Court nominee, and it reflected a deep partisan divide over Alito.

Alito Confirmed as Newest Supreme Court Justice

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5181091/5181092" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Alito to Change High Court's Configuration

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's first day on the bench will be when the court reconvenes on Feb. 21. He won't be able to participate in any case in which he hasn't heard arguments, which means an eight-member court will issue some decisions.

Alito to Change High Court's Configuration

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5181094/5181095" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Senate Ends Debate on Alito Nomination; Vote Nears

An effort to mount a filibuster against Judge Samuel Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court failed in the Senate Monday. By a vote of 72-25, senators have moved to end floor debate on Alito's nomination. A final Senate vote on his confirmation is to be held Tuesday.

Senate Ends Debate on Alito Nomination; Vote Nears

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5179161/5179162" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Senate Panel Wraps Up Alito Hearings

The Senate Judiciary Committee concludes confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito. Chairman Arlen Specter said he hopes for a committee vote on Tuesday on whether to send the nomination to the full Senate. But Democratic leaders are signaling that they want to delay the vote.

Senate Panel Wraps Up Alito Hearings

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5157010/5157011" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Senate Panel Concludes Questioning of Alito

The Senate Judiciary Committee completes its questioning of Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito. The panel also begins hearing testimony from outside witnesses, including members of the American Bar Association and current and retired judges.

Senate Panel Concludes Questioning of Alito

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5152045/5152046" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Analysis of Day Four of Alito Hearings

Douglas Kmiec, chair and professor of constitutional law at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., and Jeffrey Rosen, professor at George Washington University Law School and legal affairs editor at The New Republic, examine the final day of testimony from Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito during his confirmation hearings.

Analysis of Day Four of Alito Hearings

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5152048/5152049" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Senate Panel to Wrap Questioning of Alito

Senators continued their questioning of Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito Wednesday on Capitol Hill. The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to end questioning of Alito Thursday before interviewing witnesses for and against his nomination.

Senate Panel to Wrap Questioning of Alito

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5151063/5151064" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Alito to Face Questions from Senate Panel

Senators begin questioning Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito Tuesday. Senators have outlined the issues they planned to raise -- abortion, executive power and civil rights. Alito said he had no ideological agenda but would judge each case according to the law.

Alito to Face Questions from Senate Panel

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5146976/5146977" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Alito Begins High Court Confirmation Hearings

Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito's confirmation hearings began Monday. Senators on the Judiciary Committee highlighted abortion, executive power and civil rights as issues on which they plan to question the nominee. Alito also gave an opening statement.

Alito Begins High Court Confirmation Hearings

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5139526/5139528" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Preview: The Alito Hearings

Monday, the Senate Judiciary Committee takes up Alito's nomination to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court. Many Democrats have expressed concern that Judge Alito may be too conservative. Debbie Elliott and Ari Shapiro look ahead to the hearings.

Preview: The Alito Hearings

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5135074/5135075" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Maine Senator's Vote Could Be Key in Alito Nomination

The Senate Judiciary Committee begins hearings Monday on the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), a pro-choice moderate Republican, could be a key vote. Snowe is up for re-election this year and has not shied from bucking the Bush administration.

Maine Senator's Vote Could Be Key in Alito Nomination

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5132353/5132354" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Arkansas Ads Take Up Alito Confirmation Battle

Ads supporting and opposing Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito aim at a small target audience: African American voters in Arkansas. As confirmation hearings near, both sides seek influence beyond the

Arkansas Ads Take Up Alito Confirmation Battle

Listen · 3:22
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5131776/5131777" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Opinion

Alito's Way: Conservative Judge Faces the Senate

Commentator Clarence Page weighs in on Supreme Court nominee Judge Samuel Alito's record and his upcoming U.S. Senate confirmation hearings. Documents relating to some of Alito's earlier judgments and legal opinions indicate the judge is far more conservative than many Democrats are comfortable with.

Alito's Way: Conservative Judge Faces the Senate

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5132607/5132608" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Business Groups to Endorse Alito Nomination

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers are expected to endorse Judge Samuel Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court. Business interests believe Alito will give them a fair hearing, and that he understands the real-life consequences of certain cases.

Business Groups to Endorse Alito Nomination

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5127947/5127948" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Browse archive or search npr.org