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Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan’s seat got hotter on Tuesday as the questioning portion of her confirmation hearing began. The hearing is the last step before the Senate votes on whether or not Kagan will become only the fourth woman to serve as a United States Supreme Court justice.
Kagan is one of the more uncontroversial nominees in recent memory. Having never served on the bench, senators are left without a judicial record from which to glean Kagan’s judicial philosophy and tendencies. However, during Monday’s opening statements, Republican senators vowed to probe Kagan’s professional career in academia, as dean of Harvard Law School, and in public service with the Clinton and Obama administrations, most recently as solicitor general.
The questioning went much as expected, Democrats highlighting Kagan’s strengths and Republicans hammering her on her liberal politics and lack of experience practicing law. Kagan remained poised throughout a 10-hour day of questioning, even as tensions occasionally rose in exchanges with senators.
Chairman Laehy (D-VT) predicted the questioning of Kagan would wrap up Wednesday, with outside witnesses coming before the committee on Thursday. Kagan is expected to be confirmed with votes to spare.