ABA Awards U.S. Supreme Court Justice Nominee Samuel Alito its highest rating

Supreme Court Justice nominee Samuel J. Alito received a unanimous "well qualified" rating from the ABA Standing Committee on Federal Judiciary prior to the Senate Judiciary hearings earlier this month.  President George Bush nominated Alito for the position on Oct. 31, 2005. "Well qualified" is the highest rating the ABA committee bestows on a federal judicial nominee. 

Members of the ABA Standing Committee on Federal Judiciary testify at hearing on Alito nomination: (L-R) John Payton, Committee Chair Stephen Tober, Marna S. Tucker

The standing committee consists of 15 members, and extensively reviews a federal judicial nominee's integrity, professional competence and judicial temperament in determining the rating. The review process includes conducting interviews of a nominee's peers and associates, as well as inspecting the nominee's writings and speeches. As Committee Chair Stephen Tober wrote to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, "The standing committee did not investigate or consider Judge Alito's ideology or political views during the course of its evaluation, nor did it examine what Judge Alito's views might be on any issues that may potentially come before him, either on the Supreme Court or on the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit."

The Senate Judiciary Committee began hearings on Jan. 9. Tober testified on Jan. 12.  In his statement, Tober said, "In the case of Judge Alito, circuit members combined to contact well over 2,000 individuals across the nation.... Thereafter, circuit members interviewed more than 300 people who knew, had worked with, or had substantial knowledge of the nominee.  All interviews regarding the nominee were, in conformity with long-established practice, fully confidential to assure the most candid of assessments."  

Tober highlighted the extent of the review given to opinions and other material written by Alito. "Judge Alito has created a substantial written record over his years of public service. Three reading groups - two from academia and one from the profession - worked collaboratively to read and evaluate nearly 350 of his published opinions, several dozen unpublished opinions, a number of his Supreme Court oral argument transcripts and corresponding briefs, and other articles and legal memos." 

Related documents available on the Web include a full transcript of the written testimony, a copy of the letter to Sen. Specter, an explanation of the process [PDF] the committee undertakes is here, an interview with the committee chair published in the September issue of Your ABA, and video of the testimony and following question and answer session with the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Alito also garnered a "well qualified" rating when he was appointed to the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals by President Bush's father, President George H.W. Bush.

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