Samuel Alito (File photo)

President Bush has chosen federal appeals court Judge Samuel Alito as his new nominee for the United States Supreme Court.

Speaking at the White House Monday, the president described Mr. Alito as a man of "enormous character" who has shown mastery of the law and a deep commitment to justice.

The nominee takes the place of White House counsel Harriet Miers, who withdrew her nomination last week after pressure from some of the president's conservative supporters.

Unlike Ms. Miers, Mr. Alito has a reputation as a solid conservative jurist, and has served 15 years as a judge on the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

The nomination is likely to set off an intense political struggle. If approved by the Senate, Mr. Alito would replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, a moderate who has often been the deciding vote in cases dealing with abortion and other contentious issues.