Alito Has Lengthy Record of Opinions in School Law

Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr., President Bush’s latest nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, has an extensive record on school law issues after 15 years on a federal appeals court, including such subjects as student religious expression, affirmative action, and special education.

The 55-year-old New Jersey native was tapped by President Bush on Oct. 31, four days after White House Counsel Harriet E. Miers withdrew her name from consideration, to fill the seat of retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. His confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee are scheduled to begin Jan. 9.

Judge Alito, who was nominated in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, in Philadelphia, has a reputation as a judicial conservative, and Democratic senators and liberal interest groups last week raised concerns about his stance in a major abortion decision from 1991 and on his record...