A Tale of Two Justices

THE ONE THING people seem to know for sure about Samuel Alito is his nickname: “Scalito.” The name is meant to denote Alito’s similarities to associate Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia, whom the Senate confirmed, on Ronald Reagan’s urging, to the Court in 1986. It’s a catchy moniker, and rolls off the tongue, and may, if the media takes its cues from the press release manufacturers at the Democratic National Committee, become the catchphrase of Alito’s upcoming Senate confirmation hearings.

Which would be a shame. The nickname is misleading. The two men may share a vowel at the end of their last name. But, needless to say, they’re different people.