“Alito rejected abortion as a right”: The Washington Times today contains an article that begins:

Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr., President Bush’s Supreme Court nominee, wrote that “the Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion” in a 1985 document obtained by The Washington Times.

“I personally believe very strongly” in this legal position, Mr. Alito wrote on his application to become deputy assistant to Attorney General Edwin I. Meese III.

The document, which is likely to inflame liberals who oppose Judge Alito’s nomination to the Supreme Court, is among many that the White House will release today from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

And The Washington Times also contains an op-ed by Nat Hentoff entitled “Questions for Judge Alito.”

The Los Angeles Times today reports that “Alito’s Sole Trial Before a Jury Was a Gamble That Paid Off.”

And Gallup News Service reports that “Americans Generally Favor Alito Appointment; Closer to Roberts than to Miers in popularity.”

In commentary, The Wall Street Journal today contains an editorial entitled “Alito’s Sock Drawer: If you can’t beat him on philosophy, try ethics.”

The Charlotte Observer contains an editorial entitled “Judging Bush’s judge: Democrats who oppose Alito will have an uphill battle.”

In The Wilmington News Journal, Harry F. Themal has an op-ed that begins, “Nominees go bump behind closed doors.”

And in The Miami Herald, Law Professor Reynaldo Anaya Valencia has an op-ed entitled “A single vote can make a big difference for Hispanics.”