WASHINGTON (AP) - Samuel Anthony Alito Jr., the son of an Italian immigrant and a longtime lawyer, prosecutor and judge, was confirmed as the 110th Supreme Court justice in one of the most partisan votes for a high court nominee in modern history. Senators voted 58-42 in favor of President Bush's choice to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
Alito, 55, planned to watch his confirmation from a television in the White House's Roosevelt Room.
The former U.S. appeals court judge will quickly be sworn in at the Supreme Court before his expected appearance at Bush's annual State of the Union speech Tuesday evening with the White House's other new Supreme Court judge, Chief Justice John Roberts. Alito will be ceremonially sworn in a second time at a White House East Room appearance on Wednesday.
