Foreword
Judge Samuel Alito of the Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals was not President George W. Bush’s first pick to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Now-Chief Justice John Roberts was the initial choice, but Bush renominated him for the top spot after the death of William Rehnquist.Alito wasn’t Bush’s second pick for O’Connor’s seat, either. On October 3, 2005, the president nominated his White House counsel and longtime friend from Texas, Harriet Miers. But Miers encountered strong opposition from members of Bush’s own party, who questioned her conservative credentials and lack of judicial experience. Miers withdrew her nomination on…
