Samuel Alito Quotes

I think that Congress's ability to reason is fully equal to that of the judiciary.

The First Amendment, I think, is the jewel of our Constitution.

The most important quality for a judge is open- mindedness to the arguments.

I think that the legitimacy of the court would be undermined in any case if the court made a decision based on its perception of public opinion.

Good judges develop certain habits of mind. One of those habits of mind is the habit of delaying reaching conclusions until everything has been considered.

If you want know what sort of a justice I would make, then look at what sort of a judge I have been.

In order to have a society in which public issues can be openly and vigorously debated, it is not necessary to allow the brutalization of innocent victims.

Private religious speech can't be discriminated against. It has to be treated equally with secular speech.

I think that what my parents taught me about hard work, optimism and education still holds true.

I have been committed to carrying out my duties... in accordance with both the letter and spirit of all applicable rules of ethics and canons of conduct.

When I was growing up, we always had a big family dinner at around noon on Sunday. I still love that whenever it is possible to gather the family together.

A judge can't have any preferred outcome in any particular case. The judge's only obligation - and it's a solemn obligation - is to the rule of law.

I have been a judge for 15 years and I've made up my own mind during all that time.

I want to commend the [Federalist] Society for bringing together the best minds from right, left, and center to debate the most pressing legal issues of the day.

If I'm confirmed I'll be myself.

When I entered college, I thought that I wanted to be a lawyer, but by the time I was set to graduate, I was not too sure of that.

Part of me wanted to get a graduate degree in political science. Had I done that, I suppose I would have become a college professor.

My mother is a first generation American. Her father worked in the Roebling Steel Mill in Trenton, New Jersey.And yet my mother became the first person in her family to get a college degree.

I am especially indebted to a 10th grade English teacher who encouraged me to read great works of literature.

Many people have been positive influences in my life. My parents, whom I mentioned, were the most important, but many of my teachers were also a big help to me.

As I mentioned, things were particularly hard during the Depression. My paternal grandfather was frequently out of work, and the family was evicted from their home.

My grandparents came worked hard, and I believe they never regretted their decision to come here and make a new start.

It's been a great honor for me to spend my career in public service.

This was a time of great intellectual excitement for me. Both college and law school opened up new worlds of ideas.

I attended the public schools.And I have happy memories and strong memories of those days and good memories of the good sense and the decency of my friends and my neighbors.

If settled means that it cant be re-examined, thats one thing. If settled means that it is a precedent that is entitled to respect then it is a precedent that is protected.

After law school, I had the opportunity to clerk for a tremendous judge, Leonard I. Garth, on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, the court to which I was appointed in 1990.

I learned that hard work and self-discipline can overcome many obstacles.

I am deeply honored to have been nominated for a position on the Supreme Court. And I an humbled to have been nominated for the seat that is now held by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

I'm not any kind of a bigot, I'm not...