Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) issued the following statement today after learning that President Obama had nominated Elena Kagan for the U.S. Supreme Court.
"Elena Kagan is extremely qualified. She has the intellect and experience necessary to serve on our nation's highest Court and her stellar legal credentials have been recognized by liberal and conservative lawyers alike. She clerked for two judges for whom I have enormous respect - Judge Abner Mikva and Justice Thurgood Marshall. I am also encouraged that in this nomination, the President selected a candidate from outside of the Judiciary. Elena Kagan is recognized as one of the leading legal educators in our country.
"I am confident that, if confirmed, she will be an important voice on our Court for the rule of law and constitutional rights and values. She will ensure equality and give proper effect to our most important statutes, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and Civil Rights Act, so our most vulnerable citizens receive the fullest protections of the law.
"Elena Kagan's nomination comes after a series of firsts in her career - first female Dean of Harvard Law School and first female Solicitor General - setting the stage for what may be only the fourth woman to serve on the Court in our history."
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) made the following comment after the President nominated Solicitor General Elena Kagan to be the next Justice on the United States Supreme Court. Grassley is a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee which will consider the nominee.
"A lifetime appointment requires a thorough vetting and I expect Elena Kagan to receive fair, respectful and deliberative consideration. The Constitution gives the Senate a tremendous responsibility to carefully review the President's nominees to the Supreme Court. The Judiciary Committee must take time to ensure that the nominee will be true to the Constitution and apply the law, not personal politics, feelings or preferences. With no judicial experience, it becomes even more important that we ask thorough questions to determine that Ms. Kagan truly understands the constitutional role of a Supreme Court justice."
