Sen. Orrin Hatch, a former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he knows Alito well and is impressed with his record as a lawyer, prosecutor and judge.

"He's tops. He's really, really a top-flight judge," Hatch said in an interview.

Unlike Bush's previous pick, Harriet Miers, Alito will have a lengthy paper trail and Hatch said the committee probably will spend numerous hours dissecting the judge's record. He said some Democrats are bound to oppose any of Bush's nominees, but he expects Alito to be confirmed.

"The president can't spend his time worrying about what Democrats are going to do because clearly they aren't going to give any of his nominees a fair shake, at least 22 of them aren't," Hatch said. "I suspect when push comes to shove they'll have to admit this is a brilliant guy."

Alito is scheduled to make a courtesy call to Hatch's office this afternoon.

Utah Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Holland decried the nomination as a rushed attempt to change the subject from Washington scandal.

"Bush has again put his personal political interests ahead of the American people by nominating a judge who appears hostile to anti-discrimination protections for the disabled, is unfriendly to minorities, would undermine employment discrimination protections, and would weaken women's rights," Holland said in a statement. "America must do better."

But Sen. Bob Bennett praised Bush for making a timely nomination.

"Judge Alito's impressive credentials and extensive legal experience position him well for this post," Bennett said in a statement. "Fifteen years ago, the Senate unanimously confirmed Judge Alito as a circuit court judge, and I encourage my colleagues to, once again, move this nomination forward in an expeditious manner."

Mike Lee, now general counsel for Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., clerked for Alito in 1998 and 1999. One of at least five Brigham Young University graduates who clerked for Alito, Lee called the judge "amazing" and said he is one of his favorite people.

"I think it's the perfect pick," Lee said. "Honestly, biases aside, I can think of no one better. He's got an impeccable record academically and professionally."

During his time at the Solicitor General's office early in his career, Alito worked for Lee's father, Rex Lee, who was solicitor at the time.

Jay Jorgensen, another BYU graduate who now practices law in Washington, clerked for Alito in 1999 and went on to clerk for Chief Justice William Rehnquist.

"He's a genius. He is one of the smartest people you'll ever meet. Really, really insightful," Jorgensen said. "I think what people were looking for in this nominee is someone who was unquestionably qualified, someone who was up to the job, no doubt."

Jorgensen described Alito as a quiet, reserved family man, who coached his son's Little League baseball team the year Jorgensen clerked for him.

"[He was] not one of these guys who is going to run out and bump the umpire with his belly."

John M. Smith and Hannah Clayson Smith, a husband and wife who graduated from BYU and clerked for Alito, also described the judge as a soft-spoken man with a keen mind.

"It was clear to anyone who is paying attention that he was and is the smartest guy in the room, but he never made you feel that way," John M. Smith said.

"He always demonstrated the ability to go straight to the heart of the key issue of the case," said Hannah Clayson Smith, who later clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas.

Jorgensen said he's concerned Alito might have some difficulty in the confirmation process, but only because of politics.

"I'm afraid since the Miers nomination failed, some Democrats might feel they have to vote against whoever it is," said Jorgensen. "On the merits, there's nothing there. He's qualified, he's temperate, moderate. He's not an ideologue in any way."

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Tribune reporter Thomas Burr contributed to this report.