Samuel Alito

Today at approximately 8am PST Samuel Alito of the Third Circuit was confirmed for a spot on the United States Supreme Court. He filled the vacancy left by Justice Sandra Day O'Conner's retirement. Here is a little bit of backround info on Justice Alito:

Alito argued twelve cases before the Supreme Court for the federal government during his tenure as assistant to the Solicitor General. While serving as an attorney for New Jersey, he prosecuted many cases that involved drug trafficking and organized crime.

Alito was nominated by George H. W. Bush on February 20, 1990 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Alito was rated by the American Bar Association as “Well Qualified” at the time of his nomination. He was confirmed by unanimous consent in the Senate on April 27, 1990.

President Bush nominated Alito to the position of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on October 31, 2005.