Contact: Mark Coyle or Sean McCabe at 703-683-5004 (ext. 130-Coyle, ext. 110-McCabe)
January 31, 2006
Washington, D.C. - Wendy E. Long, counsel to The Judicial Confirmation Network, today made the following statement on the U. S. Senate vote to confirm Judge Sam Alito to the United States Supreme Court:
"Justice Alito's elevation to the United States Supreme Court is a great moment for the country for two reasons:
"One, it represents the triumph of quality. We have a new Justice with outstanding qualifications and experience, proving that the demagogues of the liberal left can no longer 'Bork' such outstanding nominees. The process is still nasty, and the demagogues still try their hardest, but the partisan judicial filibuster has failed. The attacks of the leftist extremists failed, because the American people can see that Justice Alito is not the caricature the extremists tried to paint. Indeed, it is clear now that the extremists are the ones who attacked Justice Alito.
"Two, it advances the philosophy of judicial restraint, modesty, and respect for democracy in our courts. The last few years, Americans have grown increasingly frustrated with out-of-control judges imposing a leftist agenda on them through judicial activism. A recent ABA poll shows the public believes such judicial activism has reached 'crisis' proportions. But Justices like Chief Justice Roberts and Judge Alito are a positive step toward greater faithfulness to the Constitution and the laws enacted by the people through their elected representatives. Today, a significant step has been taken in restoring American self-government."
