Dear Ms. XXX
Thank you for writing to me about President Bush's nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito to serve as Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's moderate and careful approach to the law made her the crucial swing vote on a deeply divided court.
I am very disappointed that the President did not choose a successor who would unite our country.
Judge Alito's record raises serious questions about his commitment to the rights and freedoms that define us as Americans.
On the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Alito was the only judge to uphold a law enabling government to force a woman to notify her husband before obtaining an abortion, even if she fears him. Thankfully the Supreme Court, led by Justice O'Connor, held this requirement unconstitutional.
In other cases, Judge Alito has said that state employees cannot enforce their rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act; tried to make it harder for victims of employment discrimination based on race, gender and disability to have their day in court; and, argued that Congress does not have the authority to ban the personal possession of machine guns.
The Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on this nomination began on January 9, 2006. With the stakes so high, we must thoroughly evaluate all of Judge Alito's record. Rest assured, I will only support a Supreme Court nominee whom I believe will safeguard the rights and freedoms of all Americans.
Again, thank you for writing to me.
Barbara Boxer
United States Senator
Please visit my website at
http://boxer.senate.gov