In early February, Samuel Alito was sworn into office. Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito took a victory lap in the Senate on Wednesday, accepting congratulations from Republican leaders as lawmakers moved toward confirming him in a largely party-line vote. A few hours after the final confirmation debate began, Alito met with Senate Majority Leader Bill First, Majority Whip Mitch McConnell and Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter in a room in the U.S. Capitol that directly faces the neighboring Supreme Court











Justice Alito was personally chosen by President George W. Bush, as the replacement for retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. "I call on the United States Senate to put partisanship aside and give Judge Alito the up-or-down vote he deserves," Bush said.

Samuel Anthony Alito Jr. took his place on the Supreme Court Tuesday after winning Senate confirmation, alarming gay rights activists who fear the court’s balance will give it a more conservative tilt. A coalition of national gay rights groups had opposed Alito’s confirmation because of his judicial record and his work for the Reagan Administration in the 1980s.

Aside from being guaranteed a lifetime seat on the Supreme Court, he received more “no” votes than any confirmed Supreme Court nominee in the last 100 years except for Clarence Thomas.

By a vote of 58-42, the Senate confirmed Judge Alito, but there was deep-seated anger in the material progressive area. That's because with Alito and Judge Roberts now in the court, traditionalists will rule and material progressives will have a much more difficult time getting their plans mandated into law.