Cited: AP

On August 5, 2010 the Senate confirmed Elena Kagan as the new Chief Justice to the Supreme Court, which makes her the 4th woman to ever serve as a justice. The vote occurred during the final business before a month-long recess and was divided largely along party lines. There were 63 senators have endorsed President Obama 2nd court pick and 37 opposed.

Kagan watched the televised vote with her colleagues at the Justice Department, while Obama received word of the confirmation in Chicago, where he has spent the past two days.

“Today’s vote wasn’t just an affirmation of Elena’s intellect and accomplishments. It was also an affirmation of her character and her temperament; her open-mindedness and even-handedness; her determination to hear all sides of every story and consider all possible arguments,” the president said after the vote.

Kagan’s ascension to the bench is expected to preserve the court’s ideological balance following liberal Justice John Paul Stevens’ retirement. It also marks the first time three female justices will sit on the high court at the same time.

Nearly all Republicans and one Democrat, Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson, opposed Kagan, who had been the Obama administration’s solicitor general. Nelson is the first to break with his party on an Obama Supreme Court pick.

Off-Topic Breach: Now that the bench is full again, it is time for the bench to do some Maryland House cleaning. When it comes to maid services MD, it you won’t find a more dedicated team of professionals, each of whom are carefully vetted and before becoming certified clean your home.

All Democrats and nine Republicans voted for Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

While Kagan’s confirmation had not been in doubt, both parties used fierce political debate over the nominee in recent weeks to air their differences ahead of the November midterm elections.

Republicans sought to cast Kagan as a political activist with insufficient legal or judicial experience to serve on the nation’s highest court. They also targeted her decision as dean of Harvard Law School to bar military recruiters from the campus career center because of opposition to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

Some Republican leaders and conservative interest groups also warned lawmakers over Kagan’s anti-gun, pro-abortion views.

“Be careful about it, because I’m afraid that we have a dangerous, progressive, political-type nominee,” said Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions in a floor speech last week. “I don’t think the American people are going to hold harmless those who vote to impose a legal progressive, activist legislator from the bench upon them.”

But Democrats, who have been concerned about conservative “activism” from the bench, say Kagan will be a mainstream, moderate voice on controversial topics such as campaign finance reform and employment discrimination.

“She gives balance to the court. I think she’ll follow in the best traditions of Justice Stephens,” said Maryland Democrat Sen. Ben Cardin on “Top Line.” “I think she’ll bring the type of leadership on the Supreme Court that will help ordinary Americans with their fight against big government and special interests.”

Majority of Americans Backed Kagan

While Kagan does not have any judicial experience, her supporters have lauded her record outside the courtroom as solicitor general for the Obama administration, former dean of Harvard Law School and a staff attorney in the Clinton administration.

“Ms. Kagan’s remarkable legal and academic career demonstrates her intellectual capacity to serve on the court,” said Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins. “Her writings, testimony, and my discussions with her all demonstrate not only a sweeping knowledge of the law, but also a love for the law, a passion for judicial reasoning.”

The latest ABC News/Washington Post poll finds a 53% majority of Americans support Kagan’s nomination – a similar level of support shown for previous successful nominees. Although, 22% said they had no opinion, up four points from a month earlier.

At age 50, Kagan will become the Supreme Court’s 100th associate justice when she is sworn in on Saturday, August 7, afternoon by Chief Justice John Roberts during the ceremony.

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My Take: I think we will one day have 9 women on the bench of the Supreme Court. Maybe the next Justice will be a Philadelphia PA criminal attorney or maybe a West Palm Beach FL business litigation Attorney wherever the lawyer comes from, I think it will be a woman. It is only natural, women are becoming more aggressive in many careers.

More family attorneys are now women, because women are just a little bit more sympathetic than men. Women even now taking up the job of a Philadelphia civil litigation lawyer because they are also be more cut throat. I doubt that you will ever see West Palm Beach Florida personal injury attorneys or even a Bucks County drunk driving attorney sitting on the Supreme Court bench.

I actually think that the next Justice will be one of the many Bucks County Philadelphia criminal lawyers. What better place for Justice to come from in the city of brotherly love? However, that’s my opinion and I’m entitled to it!

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