Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.

US Supreme Court Nominee Faces Questions on Abortion, Other Issues
------------------------------------------------------------------


http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=108568D:3919ACA
If confirmed, Samuel Alito would replace retiring Justice Sandra Day
O'Connor, who is considered a moderate





Samuel Alito U.S. Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito is facing his
first round of questioning Tuesday at his Senate confirmation
hearings.

In his first question, Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter
asked Alito if he believed the U.S. Constitution protects the right to
privacy, and the nominee said he does.

When asked about a woman's right to choose to have an abortion, Alito
cited the legal doctrine of starre decisis, the legal principle that
prior court decisions should be used as guiding principle. He said
precedents should only be overridden in special circumstances.

The conservative federal appeals judge is expected to face a number of
tough questions from opposition Democrats and some Republicans on
abortion and other issues such as civil rights and the scope of
presidential power.

Alito told the committee in his opening statement Monday that a judge
cannot have an agenda or any preferred outcome in any particular case.

If the full Senate confirms his nomination, it could move the high
court to the right for decades. The 55-year-old would replace retiring
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who is considered a moderate.


.