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Elena Kagan's Supreme Court Nomination Get full coverage of President Obama's choice for the 112th justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. If she is confirmed, Elena Kagan, 50, would be the youngest member of the current court and her presence would result in three female justices on the nine-member court for the first time in its history.
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Elena Kagan's Supreme Court Nomination

Get full coverage of President Obama's choice for the 112th justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Senate Confirms Elena Kagan To Supreme Court

Solicitor General Elena Kagan was confirmed Thursday to the Supreme Court, with support from Democrats and a handful of Republicans. The vote was 63-37. During debate, Republicans took the opportunity to question Kagan's lack of judicial experience and commitment to judicial restraint. Democrats questioned the direction of the Roberts court and observed that it seemed devoted to protecting "powerful interests."

Senate Confirms Elena Kagan To Supreme Court

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Senate Committee Approves Kagan Nomination

Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (right) talks with ranking Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions during the committee's vote on the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan on Tuesday. Alex Brandon/AP hide caption

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Alex Brandon/AP

Senate Committee Approves Kagan Nomination

The Senate Judiciary Committee has voted to approve the nomination of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. The 13-6 vote sends Kagan's nomination to the full Senate. Lindsey Graham was the only Republican on the panel to vote in favor of Kagan.

Senate Committee Approves Kagan Nomination

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Sen. Graham Votes Yes On Kagan, Risks Wrath On Right

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), shown in a June 29 file photo, says he will vote for President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Elena Kagan. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Political Junkie

Sen. Graham Votes Yes On Kagan, Risks Wrath On Right

The Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Elena Kagan for the Supreme Court fell on strict party lines ... except for Sen. Lindsey Graham.  The South Carolina Republican voted in her favor.

GOP Pushes For More Votes Against Kagan

Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan testifies June 30 at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on her nomination. Alex Brandon/AP hide caption

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Alex Brandon/AP

GOP Pushes For More Votes Against Kagan

Because Democrats hold a Senate majority, there is little doubt Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan will be confirmed. But the Republican leadership, and some outside groups, are pushing hard to raise the number of 'no' votes.

GOP Pushes For More Votes Against Kagan

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Kagan's Wit Helps Her Court Favor

Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan answers questions from members of the Senate Judiciary Committee on the second day of her confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill. Mark Wilson/Getty Images hide caption

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Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Kagan's Wit Helps Her Court Favor

In between arguing about the commerce clause and explaining the meaning of interlocutory appeal, Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan delivered some very funny lines over 17 hours in a Senate hearing room.

Kagan's Wit Helps Her Court Favor

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Thurgood Marshall Jr. Sheds Light On Father

Elena Kagan's stated admiration for Thurgood Marshall, the Supreme Court justice she clerked for in the 1980s, became the focus of much scrutiny during her confirmation hearings. Charles Tasnadi/AP hide caption

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Charles Tasnadi/AP

Thurgood Marshall Jr. Sheds Light On Father

Elena Kagan's stated admiration for Thurgood Marshall, the Supreme Court justice she once clerked for, became the focus of much scrutiny during her confirmation hearings. Marshall's son talks about the late justice's true legacy, and his relationship with Kagan.

Thurgood Marshall Jr. Sheds Light On Father

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High Stakes, But No High Drama At Kagan Hearings

From left, Sens. Charles Grassley (R-IA), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), during Wednesday's session. Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images hide caption

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Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images

Opinion

High Stakes, But No High Drama At Kagan Hearings

ANALYSIS: Other news has overshadowed the confirmation hearings, and a Democratic majority in the Senate has made the outcome seem almost predetermined.

Listen To NPR's Special Report On Day 2 Of Elena Kagan's Hearing

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Kagan Defends Approach To Military Recruiting

Elena Kagan's treatment of military recruiters at Harvard Law School took center stage Tuesday on her second day of confirmation hearings to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. In tones at times emotional and steely, Kagan defended her record as a Harvard dean, even when challenged by Sen. Jeff Sessions.

Listen To NPR's Special Report On Day 2 Of Elena Kagan's Hearing

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Kagan Quizzed About Thurgood Marshall's Record

Thurgood Marshall with George E.C. Hayes (left) and James M. Nabrit (right) outside the Supreme Court building on May 17, 1954. The three lawyers had just led the fight for abolition of segregation in public schools before the Supreme Court, which ruled that segregation was unconstitutional. AP hide caption

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AP

Kagan Quizzed About Thurgood Marshall's Record

The first African-American Supreme Court justice has played a prominent role in confirmation hearings for Kagan, who served as his law clerk. On Kagan's first day on Capitol Hill, Marshall's name came up more than 30 times. Most of the name-dropping came from Republicans, however, who did not describe Marshall favorably.

Kagan Quizzed About Thurgood Marshall's Record

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Kagan Faces Questions On Views, Record

U.S. Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan dueled with Republican critics Tuesday on everything from gun rights to her policies on military recruiting while dean of Harvard Law School.

Kagan Faces Questions On Views, Record

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Photo Gallery: Elena Kagan Through The Years

Elena Kagan graduated from Hunter College High School, a publicly funded school for gifted students on Manhattan's Upper East Side, in 1977. Here, she raises her arm during a class trip to Philadelphia in a photo from the yearbook. Hunter College High School/AP hide caption

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Hunter College High School/AP

Photo Gallery: Elena Kagan Through The Years

View photos of the Supreme Court nominee from her high school days to Harvard Law School to her time as U.S. solicitor general.

On A No-Drama Day, A Debate Actually Breaks Out

Elena Kagan enjoys a lighter moment during her Supreme Court confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday. Mark Wilson/Getty Images hide caption

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On A No-Drama Day, A Debate Actually Breaks Out

Elena Kagan once described the Senate's Supreme Court confirmation hearings as exercises in "vacuity and farce." And when her hearings opened Monday, the senators were happy to remind her of those words. Then, they shocked the world and engaged in a meaty discussion about the direction of the current court. Now, will she jump in?

Kagan Vows Restraint If Confirmed To Supreme Court

Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan shakes hands with GOP Sen. Jeff Sessions (right) as Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy looks on before the start of Monday's confirmation hearing. Susan Walsh/AP hide caption

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Susan Walsh/AP

Kagan Vows Restraint If Confirmed To Supreme Court

On the opening day of her confirmation hearings, Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan vowed to serve with a "commitment to evenhandedness, principle and restraint." She said the court must also "recognize the limits on itself and respect the choices made by the American people."

Sessions: 'Ms. Kagan Has Less Real Legal Experience Of Any Nominee In At least 50 Years'

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At Confirmation Hearings, GOP Eyes Kagan's Record

U.S. Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan faces questions this week from the Senate Judiciary Committee, which opens hearings on her nomination. Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images

At Confirmation Hearings, GOP Eyes Kagan's Record

The Senate Judiciary Committee opens hearings Monday on the nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court. So far, Republican attempts to arouse controversy about Kagan have gained little traction, but this week marks the main event.

At Confirmation Hearings, GOP Eyes Kagan's Record

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