In 1993, when President Clinton nominated Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the Supreme Court, the U.S. Senate set an important precedent. Although conservative and liberal members differed in opinions of then Judge Ginsburg’s legal philosophy, they determined that she had the strong temperament and qualified experience to serve as a Supreme Court justice. Justice Ginsburg received a fair and dignified hearing, and the Senate voted for her confirmation, 96-3.

Judge Samuel Alito’s legal experience exceeds Ginsburg’s experience before joining the country’s highest court. As a U.S. attorney in the solicitor general’s office, he argued 12 cases before the Supreme Court, compared with Ginsburg’s six cases. At age 39, Alito received unanimous consent by the Senate for the 3rd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, and has served on that court since his nomination in 1990. In fact, Judge Alito has more prior judicial experience than any Supreme Court nominee in more than 70 years.

I hope that all members of the Senate apply the Ginsburg precedent to Alito and give the well-qualified nominee the treatment he deserves: a fair hearing and broad confirmation.

Oliver Wolf, Lewiston

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