The U.S. Senate confirmed Judge Samuel Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court in a 58 to 42 vote Tuesday, after Democratic attempts at a filibuster failed earlier this week.
A filibuster led by Sens. Ted Kennedy and John Kerry, both D-Mass., was terminated Monday after a 75 to 25 vote to end debate and proceed to the final vote.
Becoming the nation's 110th Supreme Court justice, Alito has been praised by many Republicans as a well-qualified and experienced addition to the high court.
"I [am] relieved and overjoyed with the confirmation of Judge Alito," University of Wisconsin College Republicans Chair Jordan Smith said. "I believe he will be a superior justice on the bench and interpret our Constitution appropriately and not be an activist judge."
As Republicans continue to laud the merits of Alito, many Democrats — including Wisconsin's two senators — are expressing concern over the judge's right-wing values.
Wisconsin Democratic Sens. Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl — who both originally voted against Alito's recommendation in the Senate Judiciary Committee last week — also voted against the judge's confirmation Tuesday, citing his conservative voting record.
"Judge Alito has a keen legal mind," Feingold said in a press release, "but his 15-year judicial record and his testimony to the Judiciary Committee do not give me confidence that he would be the impartial and objective justice that our nation needs on the highest court."
As the future promises a series of precedent-setting cases regarding the effect of the fight against terrorism on the right to privacy, critics like Feingold are concerned Alito will compromise citizens' civil liberties.
Additionally, Alito adversaries worry the former 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge will threaten women's reproductive rights.
According to the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, key swing-voter Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's conservative replacement will endanger landmark cases like Roe v. Wade.
"The confirmation of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court is a serious threat to our constitutional freedoms and rights," NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Executive Director Kelda Helen Roys said. "It is another example of President Bush trying to pack the court with right-wing extremists."
But according to the Republican Party of Wisconsin, Alito displays responsibility in his record, making judgments based on legitimate facts and not personal beliefs.
"Justice Alito will be an outstanding justice," RPW Chair Rick Graber said in a statement. "His 30 years of dedicated public service to his country and the unanimous approval of the American Bar Association are proof that our nation will be well served by Justice Samuel Alito."
