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Harvard law dean Kagan becomes first woman confirmed as US solicitor general

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The US Senate on Thursday confirmed Harvard Law School dean Elena Kagan as Solicitor General by a vote of 61-31. Kagan, the first woman to hold the office, faced opposition from Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) during Senate Judiciary Committee hearings last month for her role in a lawsuit against the Department of Defense challenging the so-called Solomon Amendment, which makes federal funding for universities conditional on cooperation with military recruiters. Kagan said the amendment violated the school's policy prohibiting recruiting by employers who discriminate based on sexual orientation. In remarks before Thursday's floor vote Specter also criticized Kagan for giving vague answers to questions. As solicitor general, Kagan is formally responsible for conducting all litigation on behalf of the United States in the US Supreme Court and supervising the handling of US litigation in federal appellate courts. Kagan has been Harvard Law School dean since 2003 but has never argued a Supreme Court case.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on March 20, 2009 (boomark / email).