AP - The Supreme Court said Tuesday it would consider reinstating a federal ban on what opponents call partial-birth abortion, pulling the contentious issue back to the high court on conservative Justice Samuel Alito's first day.

The Supreme Court wasted little time jumping back into the contentious abortion issue, agreeing today to review the constitutionality of a federal law banning a controversial late-term procedure critics call "partial birth" abortion. The case could provide a judicial sea change with new Justice Samuel Alito, who joined the high court January 31, replacing Sandra Day O'Connor. The federal law has never gone into effect, pending the outcome of two years of legal appeals.

The Supreme Court wasted little time jumping back into the contentious abortion issue, agreeing today to review the constitutionality of a federal law banning a controversial late-term procedure critics call "partial birth" abortion. The case could provide a judicial sea change with new Justice Samuel Alito, who joined the high court January 31, replacing Sandra Day O'Connor. The federal law has never gone into effect, pending the outcome of more than two years of legal appeals.

AP - Pennsylvania lost a Supreme Court appeal on Tuesday that sought to put a convicted killer back on death row.

Reuters - The U.S. Supreme Court said on Tuesday it would decide a Bush administration appeal urging the justices to uphold a federal law that bans certain abortion procedures.

AP - The Supreme Court said Tuesday it will consider the constitutionality of banning a type of late-term abortion, teeing up a contentious issue for a newly-constituted court already in a state of flux over privacy rights.

AP - Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito joined colleagues in the courtroom for the first time Thursday, just for show, before the real work begins next week on issues including abortion, presidential wartime powers and the environment.

AP - Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito joined colleagues in the courtroom for the first time Thursday, just for show, before the real work begins next week on issues including abortion, presidential wartime powers and the environment.

Three months after being nominated to the Supreme Court, the newest justice, Samuel Alito, will have little time to celebrate his Senate confirmation to the bench, facing an array of ceremonial, logistical and legal challenges in coming days.

Three months after being nominated to the Supreme Court, the newest justice, Samuel Alito, will have little time to celebrate his Senate confirmation to the bench, facing an array of ceremonial, logistical and legal challenges in coming days.

Three months after being nominated to the Supreme Court, the newest justice, Samuel Alito, will have little time to celebrate his Senate confirmation to the bench, facing an array of ceremonial, logistical and legal challenges in coming days.

AP - Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito split with the court's conservatives in a death penalty case on his first day on the court.

AFP - The US Supreme Court stayed the execution of an inmate in the midwestern state of Missouri who has argued that lethal injection amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.

Reuters - New U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito broke ranks with the court's conservatives late on Wednesday, refusing to allow Missouri to execute a man convicted of kidnapping and killing a Kansas City teenager 17 years ago, CNN reported.

Three months after being nominated to the Supreme Court, the newest justice, Samuel Alito, will have little time to celebrate his Senate confirmation to the bench, facing an array of ceremonial, logistical and legal challenges in coming days.

AP - Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito dealt Wednesday with his first case, a Missouri death row appeal, then pledged during a White House ceremony to fairly administer justice on the high court.

Three months after being nominated to the Supreme Court, the newest justice, Samuel Alito, will have little time to celebrate his Senate confirmation to the bench, facing an array of ceremonial, logistical and legal challenges in coming days.

Three months after being nominated to the Supreme Court, the newest justice, Samuel Alito, will have little time to celebrate his Senate confirmation to the bench, facing an array of ceremonial, logistical and legal challenges in coming days.

AP - New Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito cast his first vote on Wednesday, as the court refused to give Missouri permission to immediately execute a man who killed a teenage honor student.

Reuters - Samuel Alito was sworn in as a Supreme Court justice on Tuesday after prevailing in one of the closest Senate confirmation votes in a century to become the second conservative put on the court by President Bush.