The Senate Judiciary Committee opens hearings next week on the nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr. for the United States Supreme Court.

Traditionally, among the first witnesses after the nominee is a representative of the ABA’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, which is currently chaired by Portsmouth attorney and ABA State Delegate Stephen A. Tober. In late December, Tober said the Committee has been work very hard on its background investigations. He said three separate subcommittees have been conducting an exhaustive reading of Alito’s opinions and briefs in preparation for the Committee’s report and recommendation on his qualifications.

The Federal Judiciary Committee evaluates the professional qualifications of judicial nominees. The Committee reviews only issues bearing on professional qualifications—legal competence, integrity, and judicial temperament. Philosophy or ideology plays no part in the Committee’s evaluation, according to a description of the Committee’s function at www.abanet.org.