WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee opened its hearing on Monday on Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito with lawmakers praising his legal credentials yet many voicing concerns about his opposition to abortion.
With the direction of the high court possibly at stake, a number of senators also promised to ask Alito about the Bush administration’s recently disclosed domestic spying program, and what critics see as Alito’s support of excessively broad presidential powers.
“This hearing will give Judge Alito the full opportunity to address the issues,” Chairman Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican, said at the start of the nationally broadcast proceeding expected to last at least several days.
“The challenge for Judge Alito … is to demonstrate that he will protect the rights and liberties of all Americans and serve as an effective check on government overreaching,” said Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the panel’s top Democrat.