WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- As the Senate debated the U.S. Supreme Court nomination of Judge Samuel Alito Wednesday, President W. George Bush met a group of former Alito clerks.
Alito is a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, headquartered in Philadelphia.
Bush said the group of clerks included Democrats and Republicans and they all supported the Alito nomination, The Washington Post reported.
"They are uniquely qualified to assess what kind of Supreme Court Justice he would be," Bush said, adding that Alito earned the support of fellow judges in the 3rd Circuit.
Bush urged a quick confirmation vote in the Senate.
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Alito's nomination, 10-8, on a party-line vote. With 51 Republicans and at least one Democrat probably supporting his nomination, Alito has enough votes for confirmation should a vote be held.
