Judge Samuel Alito Gains the American Bar Association’s Highest Rating for a Supreme Court Nominee

USA Today: Alito gets ‘well-qualified’ rating from American Bar Association

Judge Samuel Alito on Wednesday gained the American Bar Association’s highest rating for a Supreme Court nominee, giving him a boost before next week’s Senate confirmation hearings.

The “well qualified” rating — the highest — is the same one that Alito earned in 1990 when President Bush’s father, George H.W. Bush, nominated him to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Embracing the latest rating, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said, “Leading Senate Democrats have said in the past that the ABA is the — quote — gold standard for evaluating judicial nominees.”

Michelle Malkin has a copy of the letter from the American Bar Association here.

The confirmating hearings for Judge Alito begin on Monday.

Flap handicaps Alito WILL be confirmed but Senate Republicans will change the Senate Rules to overcome a Democrat filibuster (Nuclear Option)

The negative ad campaign from People for the American Way and Moveon.org has just begun……

People for the American Way President Ralph Neas (L) leaves a news conference with the Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron after announcing their opposition to the U.S. Supreme Court’s nomination of Judge Samuel Alito in Washington January 4, 2006.

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