First Republican Opposes Elena Kagan, Democrats Promise Vote by August
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 10, 2010
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — The first Republican has already said he will oppose the nomination of pro-abortion Solicitor general Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, Democrats say a vote on her nomination may not happen until August, as GOP lawmakers can delay it until then.
Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe, a pro-life Oklahoma lawmaker, said today he would oppose Kagan’s nomination to replace retiring pro-abortion Justice John Paul Stevens.
Inhofe cited her "lack of judicial experience and her interpretation of the Constitution."
He also said he thinks she has "contempt" for the Senate confirmation process and a "lack of impartiality" for those who disagree with her positions.
"I remain concerned about Elena Kagan’s record," Inhofe said in a statement. "Now as a nominee to the Supreme Court, her lack of judicial experience and her interpretation of the Constitution also play an important role in my decision to once again oppose her nomination."
"The position for which she has been nominated has lifetime tenure, and it is concerning that the President has placed such trust in a nominee that has not been properly vetted through a judicial career, having worked mostly in academia and never before as a judge," he added.
Inhofe also opposed Kagan’s nomination in early 2009 to become Solicitor General, the attorney for the Obama administration who argues cases before the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy said he hoped to confirm Kagan by this summer, though an August vote is most likely.
"Obviously, we’ll finish it this summer so she can be sitting on the court when it comes back into session, either in September or October," he said, according to The Hill.
With Obama’s last pro-abortion Supreme Court nominee, Sonia Sotomayor, the Judiciary committee began confirmation hearings on July 13 and the full Senate eventually voted on August 9.
However,Kagan’s nomination comes two weeks prior to Sotomayor’s so that timetable could be moved up in a corresponding manner.
"Applying the same standard to this nomination, the Senate should confirm Ms. Kagan before the August recess," Leahy said
With Democrats having a 59-41 vote majority, Leahy promised Kagan would be confirmed.
"Vote up, vote down. She will be confirmed," he said.
It is unlikely that the GOP will filibuster Kagan, but that is still a possibility depending on how much opposition to her nomination develops and how she handles the committee hearings.
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