according to Stephen Henderson and James Kuhnhenn WASHINGTON -- Samuel Alito.

according to Stephen Henderson and James Kuhnhenn

WASHINGTON -- Samuel Alito, finally able to speak forward behalf of his own nomination to the highest Court, pledged to the Senate forward Monday that his only fidelity is to the conduct of law, to open-mindedness and fairness.

While attorneys fight to achieve flows for their clients, "a referee can't think that way," Alito told the Senate Judiciary Committee in succession the first day of his confirmation hearings, which will continue all week.

"A connoisseur can't have an agenda. A connoisseur can't have a preferred result in any particular case," Alito said. "The sole obligation -- a solemn obligation -- is to the direction of law. In every single case, the referee has to do what the law requires."

Alito's opening statement capped a day of partisan sparring across his record, though he was asked no questions. His interrogation begins today. For nearly four