Elena Kagan
One of my most important jobs as a Senator is to provide advice and consent for nominees to the United States Supreme Court. Last week I had the honor of meeting with President Obama's choice to succeed Justice John Paul Stevens, Solicitor General Elena Kagan.
Elena first came to my attention when she was nominated to be the people's lawyer, our Solicitor General, early last year. Boy, was she impressive. Experienced, incredibly smart, legally savvy, and above all -- tough enough to fight for the most important client of her career: the people of the United States. It's no surprise she was confirmed for that job with bipartisan support.
Today, I'm convinced she believes as I do, that the rule of law should drive decisions on the Supreme Court, and that Americans from all walks of life should be guaranteed a fair hearing. I also think Elena has a genuine understanding of the impact of Supreme Court rulings on everyday people's lives, which is critically important to me.
In the American legal community, Elena is a superstar. She was the first woman to serve as Dean of Harvard Law School, and the first woman in our nation's history to serve as Solicitor General. Elena's been shattering glass ceilings her entire career.
I think it's important for women, especially young women still in school, to witness Elena's ascent to be the fourth woman in American history to sit on the Supreme Court. Her success will inspire them to work even harder and to know that whatever they decide to do in life -- their potential and work-ethic, not their gender, will determine their achievements.
The confirmation process itself is important, and we've got a number of steps to take until we vote on Elena's nomination. My colleagues on the Judiciary committee will do a thorough and complete review of her record, and it's important that Senators have the opportunity to directly question Elena about her approach to the law, and the judicial philosophy she would bring to the court.
But when all is said and done, I'm confident Solicitor General Kagan will be confirmed, and I'll be proud to cast my vote on her behalf.
Harry Reid
Elena Kagan
One of my most important jobs as a Senator is to provide advice and consent for nominees to the United States Supreme Court. Last week I had the honor of meeting with President Obama's choice to succeed Justice John Paul Stevens, Solicitor General Elena Kagan.
Elena first came to my attention when she was nominated to be the people's lawyer, our Solicitor General, early last year. Boy, was she impressive. Experienced, incredibly smart, legally savvy, and above all -- tough enough to fight for the most important client of her career: the people of the United States. It's no surprise she was confirmed for that job with bipartisan support.
Today, I'm convinced she believes as I do, that the rule of law should drive decisions on the Supreme Court, and that Americans from all walks of life should be guaranteed a fair hearing. I also think Elena has a genuine understanding of the impact of Supreme Court rulings on everyday people's lives, which is critically important to me.
In the American legal community, Elena is a superstar. She was the first woman to serve as Dean of Harvard Law School, and the first woman in our nation's history to serve as Solicitor General. Elena's been shattering glass ceilings her entire career.
I think it's important for women, especially young women still in school, to witness Elena's ascent to be the fourth woman in American history to sit on the Supreme Court. Her success will inspire them to work even harder and to know that whatever they decide to do in life -- their potential and work-ethic, not their gender, will determine their achievements.
The confirmation process itself is important, and we've got a number of steps to take until we vote on Elena's nomination. My colleagues on the Judiciary committee will do a thorough and complete review of her record, and it's important that Senators have the opportunity to directly question Elena about her approach to the law, and the judicial philosophy she would bring to the court.
But when all is said and done, I'm confident Solicitor General Kagan will be confirmed, and I'll be proud to cast my vote on her behalf.
Harry Reid
