Samuel Alito on Foreign Policy

Supreme Court Justice (nominated by Pres. George W. Bush 2005)

Don't look to foreign law for civil rights interpretation

I don't think that foreign law is helpful in interpreting the Constitution. Our Constitution does two basic things: It sets out the structure of our government and it protects fundamental rights. The structure of our government is unique to our country, and so I don't think that looking to decisions of constitutional courts in other countries is very helpful.

As for the protection of individual rights, I think that we should look to our own Constitution and our own precedents. Our country has been the leader in protecting individual rights. We have our own law. We have our own traditions.

There are other legal issues that come up in which I think it's legitimate to look to foreign law. For example, if a question comes up concerning the interpretation of a treaty that's been entered into by many countries, I don't see anything wrong with seeing the way the treaty has been interpreted in other countries.

Source: Sam Alito Senate Confirmation Hearings Jan 10, 2006

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