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'''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.<ref>Justice Alito's first opinion for the Court, which was unanimous, was in ''Holmes v. South Carolina'', 547 U.S. 319 (2006) (argued on Feb. 22, 2006; decided on May 1, 2006).</ref>

'''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.<ref>Justice Alito's first opinion for the Court, which was unanimous, was in ''Holmes v. South Carolina'', 547 U.S. 319 (2006) (argued on Feb. 22, 2006; decided on May 1, 2006).</ref>

Though one of the more [[conservative]] members of the Court, '''''Justice Alito opened the floodgates to sports [[gambling]]'''''<ref>https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/30/sports-betting-gambling-casinos-card-rooms-00020319</ref> by writing the decision for the Court in ''[[Murphy v. NCAA]]'', 138 S. Ct. 1461 (2018), based on an arcane legal principle that he had long championed.  A former prosecutor himself, Alito also usually sides with prosecutors in criminal appeals even when most of the justices reverse a conviction.

Although one of the more [[conservative]] members of the Court, '''''Justice Alito opened the floodgates to sports [[gambling]]'''''<ref>https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/30/sports-betting-gambling-casinos-card-rooms-00020319</ref> by writing the decision for the Court in ''[[Murphy v. NCAA]]'', 138 S. Ct. 1461 (2018), based on an arcane legal principle that he had long championed.  A former prosecutor himself, Alito also usually sides with prosecutors in criminal appeals even when most of the justices reverse a conviction.

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

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

*A 5-4 pro-business decision limiting employment claims for sex discrimination

*A 5-4 pro-business decision limiting employment claims for sex discrimination

*A 5-4 decision against environmentalists, ''[[Nat'l Ass'n of Home Builders v. Defenders of Wildlife]]''

*A 5-4 decision against [[environmentalist]]s, ''[[Nat'l Ass'n of Home Builders v. Defenders of Wildlife]]''

*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.

*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 was the author of the two biggest decisions in the 2013-2014 Term, both of which were conservative and were rendered on the last day of the Term (June 30).  He then emerged as perhaps the most consistent conservative leader on the Court.

Justice Alito was the author of the two biggest decisions in the 2013-2014 Term, both of which were conservative and were rendered on the last day of the Term (June 30).  He then emerged as perhaps the most consistent conservative leader on the Court.

Justice Alito was particularly adept at attracting support for his opinions by Justice [[Anthony Kennedy]], which is something other [[conservative]] Justices have failed to do.  For example, even though Justice [[Anthony Kennedy]] voted with the [[liberal]] wing on the [[global warming]] case during the 2006-1007 Term, Justice Alito held his vote for the 5-4 decision against the environmentalists cited above.  Justice Alito's strong concurrence in ''[[DA's Office for the Third Judicial Dist. v. Osborne‎]]'' also attracted support by Justice Kennedy, who was the only other Justice to join it in its entirety.

Justice Alito was particularly adept at attracting support for his opinions by Justice [[Anthony Kennedy]], which is something other [[conservative]] Justices failed to do.  For example, even though Justice [[Anthony Kennedy]] voted with the [[liberal]] wing on the [[global warming]] case during the 2006-1007 Term, Justice Alito held his vote for the 5-4 decision against the environmentalists cited above.  Justice Alito's strong concurrence in ''[[DA's Office for the Third Judicial Dist. v. Osborne‎]]'' also attracted support by Justice Kennedy, who was the only other Justice to join it in its entirety.

Justice Alito 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 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.