The US Senate begins debate today on US Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, a 55-year-old conservative.
A day after the Senate Judiciary Committee approved Alito on a party-line vote of 10-8, the full Republican-led Senate starts its consideration of President George W. Bush's nominee to the lifetime post.
Supreme Court nominee Judge Samuel Alito Jr.
A Senate confirmation vote is expected as early as the end of this week, and with Republicans holding 55 of 100 seats in the chamber, Alito appears certain to be approved.
If confirmed, Alito, a federal appeals judge since 1990, would replace moderate conservative Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and could help move the nine-member high court to the right on abortion, civil rights and other issues.
"We urge the Senate to move forward with a swift up-or-down vote so that he can begin serving on our nation's highest court," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.
Republican backers have hailed Alito as a mainstream conservative who had received the American Bar Association's top rating. But Democratic critics say he has staked out some extreme positions on such matters as abortion rights, civil rights and presidential powers.
So far, just one of the Senate's 44 Democrats - Ben Nelson of Nebraska - has announced he will vote for Alito. All but a handful of other Democrats are expected to oppose him.