Samuel Alito

Samuel Alito is an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (2006-). He was appointed by George W. Bush to fill the seat vacated by Sandra Day O'Connor after Harriet Miers was forced to withdraw her nomination.

In his first 17 months, Justice Alito wrote three major opinions for the Court:

• A 5-4 pro-business decision limiting employment claims for sex discrimination
• A 5-4 decision against environmentalists
• A plurality opinion joined by Justice [[Anthony Kennedy} and Chief Justice John Roberts upholding faith-based programs in Hein v. Freedom from Religion Found., Inc., 127 S. Ct. 2553 (2007). Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas concurred with a stronger opinion.

Justice Alito also wrote a pivotal concurrence in the 5-4 school speech decision popularly known as "BONG HiTS 4 JESUS," which was on the student banner at issue. Morse v. Frederick, 127 S. Ct. 2618 (2007). Justice Anthony Kennedy joined Justice Alito's concurrence.

Justice Alito joined the opinion of Chief Justice John Roberts in the campaign finance case, FEC v. Wis. Right to Life, Inc., 127 S. Ct. 2652 (2007), but added a stronger concurrence in favor of political free speech.

In addition, Justice Alito showed a willingness to stand up to everyone else by criticizing an 8-person opinion in Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Ry. v. White, 126 S. Ct. 2405 (2007).

Opinions as a Circuit Judge

Justice Alito's opinions as a judge on the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit have acquired greater significance nationwide, and are being cited by other Circuits now that Justice Alito is on the U.S. Supreme Court. These decisions include:

• ACLU-NJ ex rel. Miller v. Twp. of Wall, 246 F.3d 258 (3d Cir. 2001), denying standing under the Establishment Clause to challenge a Christmas-Hanukkah municipal display