By host Tom Ashbrook:

The third time may be charmed for President Bush, trying for the last four months to find a replacement for retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on the U.S. Supreme Court. First came John Roberts, who was swept into the Chief Justice role when the late William Rhenquist died. Then came current White House legal counsel Harriet Miers, swept off the table last week in a shower of catcalls from the right.

Now, 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals federal judge Samuel Alito is up, nominated in the White House by President Bush this morning. Admirers and critics call him “Scalito,” for the deep conservatism he shares with Justice Antonin Scalia. This is not a Sandra Day O’Connor moderate but he is Bush’s new man.

Hear reaction to judge Samuel Alito’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Guests:

Jan Crawford Greenburg, National Legal Affairs correspondent for the Chicago Tribune.

Bennett Roth, Washington correspondent for The Houston Chronicle

Douglas Kmiec, professor at Pepperdine University Law School

Heather Gerken, professor at Harvard Law School

Jessica Echard, executive director of the Eagle Forum

Paul Fishman, friend and former colleague of Samuel Alito

Elliot Mincsberg, Legal Director for People for the American Way