The Issue: Samuel Alito comes before Senate committee

Their View: He should be fairly evaluated by the group

The long-anticipated Senate committee hearings on Samuel Alito's Supreme Court nomination, set to begin Monday, will bring intense scrutiny of the nominee's track record, legal acumen, financial dealings and more, and should delve deeply into the principles he would use in forming his opinions.

Good. We hope it will be a tough, thorough process.

But we also hope - vainly, perhaps, given the political stakes - the sessions don't degenerate into angry partisan rhetoric, personal attacks and distortions of Alito's record. He should be fairly evaluated on his legal ability, his temperament and character, and his respect for the Constitution, the rule of law and legal precedent. He shouldn't be subject to some ideological quota or personal-opinion litmus test.

- The Cincinnati Enquirer