Fast Facts: Samuel A. Alito, Jr.

Basic biographical facts about Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito:

PERSONAL

— Samuel A. Alito, Jr.

— 55 years old, born April 1, 1950 in Trenton, N.J.

EDUCATION — AB, Princeton, 1972; JD, Yale, 1975, served as an editor on the Yale Law Journal (search).

EXPERIENCE — Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 1990-present; U.S. attorney for the district of New Jersey, 1987-1990; deputy assistant to the U.S. attorney general, 1985-1987; assistant to the U.S. solicitor general, 1981-1985;

FAMILY — Alito and his wife, Martha-Ann Bomgardner, live in West Caldwell, N.J. They have two children, a college-age son, Philip, and a younger daughter, Laura. His late father, Samuel Alito Sr., was the director of New Jersey's Office of Legislative Services from 1952 to 1984. Alito's sister, Rosemary, is a top employment lawyer in New Jersey.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

— Alito clerked for Judge Leonard Garth (search) of the Third Circuit, who is now his colleague on that court.

— From 1977-1980, Alito served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the appellate division, where he argued cases before the circuit court to which he was later appointed.

— From 1981-1985, Alito served as Assistant to the Solicitor General. He has argued 12 cases on behalf of the federal government in the U.S. Supreme Court and he has argued numerous others before the federal courts of appeals.

— From 1985-1987, Alito served in the Office of Legal Counsel as Deputy Assistant Attorney General where he provided constitutional advice for the Executive Branch.

— From 1987-1989, Alito served as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey where he is best known for prosecuting white collar and environmental crimes, drug trafficking, organized crime, and violations of civil rights.

— Alito was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey.

— In 1990, President George H.W. Bush (search) nominated Judge Alito to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

— Alito was unanimously confirmed by voice vote by the U.S. Senate for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

— Alito has participated in thousands of appeals and authored hundreds of opinions.

— Judge Alito has argued 12 Supreme Court cases and argued at least two dozen court of appeals cases and handled at least 50 others.

— Alito has participated in various professional associations including the New Jersey Federal Bar Association (member of advisory board); the New Jersey State Bar Association; the American Bar Association; and the Federalist Society.