Vote On Alito

Bumped Update: Actually what pleases me most about the by blog results for the poll below is that my results may be the most balanced results there so far. And while personally, I might prefer it were skewed more in favor than against Alito - I always allow for any libs who always vote twice. ; )

BTW I haven't mentioned it until now, but Alito is a neighbor of sorts and I heard the talk at the local high school today was that his daughter and the family were dining at the White House tonight. From most local accounts, he's a very good man - and a good man for the job.

Hugh Hewitt has an auto-tabulating poll where you can weigh in on Bush's selection.

Here's some info which draws in part from his tenure as a New Jersey prosecutor:

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Mobsters, oil companies, a bearded Muslim police officer - and even water-logged hams - have marked a nearly quarter-century legal career for Samuel Alito that ranged from time at the Reagan Justice Department to work in New Jersey and in the federal court system.

For the last 15 years, Alito has served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, putting him in the middle of weighty constitutional issues and far-reaching decisions.

Not all of it has gone smoothly. In August 1988, Alito and his federal prosecutorial staff suffered a stinging defeat when a jury took just 14 hours before deciding to acquit 20 reputed mobsters on racketeering charges in what was a long-running federal criminal trial - 21 months, more than 40,000 pages of transcripts, hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Alito prevailed over Yu Kikumura, a reputed member of the revolutionary Japanese Red Army convicted of driving with homemade bombs on the New Jersey Turnpike. Kikumura, convicted of plotting to bomb a Navy recruiting center in Manhattan, is now serving a 22-year term. The non-jury trial in Newark pitted Alito against a noted defense lawyer, the late William M. Kunstler.

In a 1999 case, Fraternal Order of Police v. City of Newark, the 3rd Circuit ruled 3-0 that Muslim police officers in the city can keep their beards. The police had made exemption in its facial hair policy for medical reasons (a skin condition known as pseudo folliculitis barbae) but not for religious reasons.

Alito wrote the opinion, saying, "We cannot accept the department's position that its differential treatment of medical exemptions and religious exemptions is premised on a good-faith belief that the former may be required by law while the latter are not."

Read it all here.

Comments

[splashtc]

So far not so good. With some constitutional issues affecting specifically women it would be much better to appoint another woman so that her opinion and interpretation can be considered in these decisions.

[lawbster]

his record speaks for itself and it definitely skews against women's rights, in fact rights in general -

Planned Parenthood v. Casey 1991
Bray v. Marriott Hotels 1997
Nathanson v. Medical College of Pennsylvania 1991
Chittister v. Department of Community and Economic Development, 2000
Doe v. Groody 2000
Dia v. Ashcroft, 2003
Ki Se Lee v. Ashcroft, 2004

[Dan]

Damn lefties are throwin' off my poll. LOL Should'a know'd you'd vote more than once. ; )

[paul]

Voters have no say so in appointing judges unless the are republicans and the nominee is a Meirs.

What happened to the theory that Meirs would be appointed by Bush during recess?

I support the nuclear option just as long as I get to see the republicans faces when the democrats use it on them.

[splashtc]

That's what you get for a running an independant blog.

[Aunt Em]

Thumbs down, not a lib, not pro-abortion, but the guy is a pig.

Oink.

[Aunt Em]

Ugh, that poll! Apparently the righties dont want a fair vote.

[Beth]

HA! The results from your site are hilarious! hahahahhahahhahaha

[Beth]

GAWD, I think your lefties have screwed up the Alabama results too. How embarrassing! There's NO WAY that many Alabama Republicans oppose Alito!

[cindi in pa]

Planned Parenthood v. Casey 1991

Casey was a democrat and one of the greatest governers ever to take the seat. He was very pro-life and anti choice. He has a son who may run for the same seat in 2006. His son also a democrat. Waiting to see his reaction of the appointment of Mr. Alito. Should prove intereting due to his having his parties support for the election. Bob Jr. grew up under the wings of his father, an old democrat of which there are no more.

Hats off to Mr. Alito! You will fill the position well.