US: US supreme court justice Samuel Alito has sent a thank-you letter to James Dobson, founder of the controversial conservative group Focus on the Family, expressing gratitude for the support the judge received during his recent confirmation process.
"I would also greatly appreciate it if you would convey my appreciation to the good people from all parts of the country who wrote to tell me that they were praying for me and for my family during this period As long as I serve on the Supreme Court I will keep in mind the trust that has been placed in me," Mr Alito wrote.
Mr Dobson, who has advocated corporal punishment of children and claims that homosexuality can be "cured", read the letter out during a weekly broadcast.
"So many people contacted Samuel Alito in response to our programme, and he got so many letters, that he wrote me this response that arrived on my desk yesterday," he said.
A supreme court spokesperson said the sentiments expressed in the letter were similar to those in other thank-you letters the judge had sent in recent weeks.
"The justice has responded to scores of congratulatory letters to people from all walks of life," she said.
