Specter says will vote for Alito to high court

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman
Arlen Specter on Friday announced he would vote to confirm
Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“I intend to vote to support Judge Alito’s nomination as
associate justice of the Supreme Court,” said the Pennsylvania
Republican at the conclusion of his committee’s confirmation
hearing.

Specter, a moderate who supports legalized abortion,
announced his support of Alito, a conservative appeals court
judge who was grilled closely on his past statements in
opposition to a woman’s right to an abortion.

Most, if not all, of the eight Democrats on the Judiciary
Committee are expected to vote against Alito. The panel will
meet on January 17 to see when it can vote its recommendation
to the full Senate.