12:34pm EST
SCALITO - THE WAR IS ON: I've been watching, I've been waiting, and at 6:30am this morning my wait came to an end. The fight that listeners and readers had been telling me they've been dying to have is now upon us, and from the looks of it that "angry base" I wrote about in my most recent column is ready to stand and march.
So what do we know about the background and biography of Judge Samuel A Alito Jr.?
Samuel A. Alito, Jr., was born in April, 1950, in Trenton, New Jersey.
Alito received his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and attended Yale Law School, where he served as an editor on the Yale Law Journal.
Alito clerked for Judge Leonard Garth of the Third Circuit, who is now his colleague on that court.
From 1977-1980, Alito served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the appellate division, where he argued cases before the circuit court to which he was later appointed.
From 1981-1985, Alito served as Assistant to the Solicitor General. He has argued 12 cases on behalf of the federal government in the U.S. Supreme Court and he has argued numerous others before the federal courts of appeals.
From 1985-1987, Alito served in the Office of Legal Counsel as Deputy Assistant Attorney General where he provided constitutional advice for the Executive Branch.
From 1987-1989, Alito served as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey where he is best know for prosecuting white collar and environmental crimes, drug trafficking, organized crime, and violations of civil rights.
Alito was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey.
In 1990, President George H. Bush nominated Judge Alito to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Alito was unanimously confirmed by voice vote by the U.S. Senate for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Judge Alito has participated in thousands of appeals and authored hundreds of opinions.
Judge Alito has argued 12 Supreme Court cases and argued at least two dozen court of appeals cases and handled at least 50 others.
Alito has participated in various professional associations including the New Jersey Federal Bar Association (member of advisory board); the New Jersey State Bar Association; the American Bar Association; and the Federalist Society.
