Samuel Alito

Bush picks Alito for Supreme Court

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• published: 21 Jul 2015
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SHOTLIST 1. President Bush and Judge Samuel Alito walk to the podium 2. SOUNDBITE (English) US President George Bush "Good morning. I am pleased to announce my nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr as associated justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Judge Alito is one of the most accomplished and respected judges in America and his long career in public service has given him an extraordinary breadth of experience. As a justice department official, federal prosecutor and judge on the United States courts of appeals, Sam Alito has shown a mastery of the law, a deep commitment of justice and he has shown a mastery of character. He's scholarly, fair minded and principled. And these qualities will serve our nation well on the highest court of the land. 3. Two shot of Bush and Alito; Bush UPSOUND (English) "Judge, thanks for agreeing to serve and congratulations on your nomination." 4. SOUNDBITE (English) US Supreme Court Justice nominee Judge Samuel Alito "Thank you very much Mr. President. I am deeply honoured to serve on the Supreme Court and very grateful for the confidence you have shown in me. The Supreme Court is an institution I have long held in reverence. In my 29 years as a public servant, I have had the opportunity to view the Supreme Court from a variety of perspectives - as an attorney in the solicitor general's office, arguing and briefing cases before the Supreme Court, as a federal prosecutor and most recently for the last 15 years as a judge of the court of appeals. During all of that time, my appreciation of the vital role the Supreme Court plays in our constitutional system has greatly deepened. I argued my first case before the Supreme Court in 1982 and I still vividly recall that day. I remember the sense of awe that I felt when I stepped up to the lectern and I also remember the relief that I felt when Justice O'Conner - sensing I think that I was a rookie - made sure that the first question I was asked was a kind one. I was grateful to her on that happy occasion and I am particularly happy to be nominated for her seat." 5. Cutaway of Supreme Court 6. SOUNDBITE (English) US Supreme Court Justice nominee Judge Samuel Alito "Federal judges have the duty to interpret the constitution and the laws faithfully and fairly, to protect the constitutional rights of all Americans and to do these things with care and with restraint, always keeping in mind the limited role the courts play in our constitution. I pledge that if confirmed I will do everything within my power to fulfil that responsibility." 7. Cutaway reporters 8. Alito thanks Bush for the honour; they shake hands and walk away STORYLINE US President George W. Bush, stung by the rejection of his first choice, on Monday nominated conservative judge Samuel Alito to replace moderate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in a bid to reshape the Supreme Court and mollify his political base. "Judge Alito is one of the most accomplished and respected judges in America," the president said in announcing Alito's selection. "He's got a mastery of the law and a deep commitment to justice." Bush exhorted the Senate to confirm his choice by the end of the year. The choice was likely to spark a political brawl, however. Unlike the nomination of Harriet Miers, which was derailed on Thursday by Bush's conservative allies, Alito faces opposition from Democrats. In contrast to Miers, Bush said Alito had more prior judicial experience than any Supreme Court nominee in 70 years. So consistently conservative, Alito has been dubbed "Scalito" or "Scalia-lite" by some lawyers because his judicial philosophy invites comparisons to conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/1cb5e4786254c2c0570348cc50a63c8b Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork