Senate Confirms Elena Kagan to Supreme Court
This afternoon, everyday Nevadans gained a new advocate when the Senate confirmed Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the United States Supreme Court. Senator Reid led the Senate to confirm this qualified nominee in part because of the letters and calls of support he has gotten from Nevadans. Like Senator Reid, she stands for fairness and fights for the rights of everyday citizens. Kagan will be only the fourth woman to serve on the Supreme Court in our country's history.
Despite Kagan's qualifications and determination to fight for ordinary Americans, Sharron Angle said today that she strongly opposed the nomination. Kagan isn't a working mother, another group Angle strongly opposes, so perhaps it is her "advocacy" on behalf of working Americans than Angle rejects.
I hope you'll take a moment to read Senator Reid's comments about Elena Kagan. Show your support for Harry Reid by signing up online or joining us on Facebook.
Megan Jones
An excerpt from Senator Reid's comments on Supreme Court Nominee Elena Kagan:
"The roots of General Kagan's respect for the rule of law are in her respect for our separation of powers. It is a reverence she developed during her service in all three branches of government, defending the First and Second Amendments, strengthening our national security and protecting children's safety.
"Our Supreme Court promises equal justice for all who come before its bench. We must also fulfill the promise of greater equality among those who sit behind it.
"Though the founders did not want ours to be a government of men, for a long time men were the only ones running it. The most qualified women were turned away one after another.
"Justice O'Connor graduated third in her law school class at Stanford while peers her age were just finishing college. But the only job offer she got upon graduating was as a legal secretary.
"Justice Ginsburg graduated first in her law school class at Columbia, but not a single law firm would hire her, either. She was denied a clerkship by not one but two Supreme Court Justices because, as they readily admitted, she was a woman.
"It took nearly 200 years before the Court welcomed Sandra Day O'Connor as its first woman, and more than a decade longer before Ruth Bader Ginsburg would join her as its second. A year ago today, Ginsburg was the only woman Justice. But when it opens this fall, three women - a full third of the bench - will preside together for the first time.
"That's progress. It's not yet completely equitable in a nation where women represent more than half the population, but it's progress.
"That Sotomayor and Kagan can join the Court in such relatively rapid succession is a tribute to the path their predecessors cleared.
"Justice Ginsburg said last year that 'women belong in all places where decisions are being made.' The Supreme Court is certainly one of those places, and Elena Kagan is certainly one of those women. And as the Senate votes for this nominee on her merits, we are also voting for the most inclusive Court in its long history. It will be even more inclusive when we confirm more Justices who don't come from the Ivy League.
"Because of her intellect and integrity; her reason, restraint and respect for the rule of law; her unimpeachable character and unwavering fidelity to our Constitution, I am proud to cast my vote for her confirmation."
Senate Confirms Elena Kagan to Supreme Court
This afternoon, everyday Nevadans gained a new advocate when the Senate confirmed Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the United States Supreme Court. Senator Reid led the Senate to confirm this qualified nominee in part because of the letters and calls of support he has gotten from Nevadans. Like Senator Reid, she stands for fairness and fights for the rights of everyday citizens. Kagan will be only the fourth woman to serve on the Supreme Court in our country's history.
Despite Kagan's qualifications and determination to fight for ordinary Americans, Sharron Angle said today that she strongly opposed the nomination. Kagan isn't a working mother, another group Angle strongly opposes, so perhaps it is her "advocacy" on behalf of working Americans than Angle rejects.
I hope you'll take a moment to read Senator Reid's comments about Elena Kagan. Show your support for Harry Reid by signing up online or joining us on Facebook.
Megan Jones
An excerpt from Senator Reid's comments on Supreme Court Nominee Elena Kagan:
"The roots of General Kagan's respect for the rule of law are in her respect for our separation of powers. It is a reverence she developed during her service in all three branches of government, defending the First and Second Amendments, strengthening our national security and protecting children's safety.
"Our Supreme Court promises equal justice for all who come before its bench. We must also fulfill the promise of greater equality among those who sit behind it.
"Though the founders did not want ours to be a government of men, for a long time men were the only ones running it. The most qualified women were turned away one after another.
"Justice O'Connor graduated third in her law school class at Stanford while peers her age were just finishing college. But the only job offer she got upon graduating was as a legal secretary.
"Justice Ginsburg graduated first in her law school class at Columbia, but not a single law firm would hire her, either. She was denied a clerkship by not one but two Supreme Court Justices because, as they readily admitted, she was a woman.
"It took nearly 200 years before the Court welcomed Sandra Day O'Connor as its first woman, and more than a decade longer before Ruth Bader Ginsburg would join her as its second. A year ago today, Ginsburg was the only woman Justice. But when it opens this fall, three women - a full third of the bench - will preside together for the first time.
"That's progress. It's not yet completely equitable in a nation where women represent more than half the population, but it's progress.
"That Sotomayor and Kagan can join the Court in such relatively rapid succession is a tribute to the path their predecessors cleared.
"Justice Ginsburg said last year that 'women belong in all places where decisions are being made.' The Supreme Court is certainly one of those places, and Elena Kagan is certainly one of those women. And as the Senate votes for this nominee on her merits, we are also voting for the most inclusive Court in its long history. It will be even more inclusive when we confirm more Justices who don't come from the Ivy League.
"Because of her intellect and integrity; her reason, restraint and respect for the rule of law; her unimpeachable character and unwavering fidelity to our Constitution, I am proud to cast my vote for her confirmation."
