It’s been a heck of a week for Elena Kagan. Monday, Obama introduced her to the nation as his pick to replace Justice John Paul Stevens. By Tuesday, we had all been treated to a 17-year-old photo of her playing softball, courtesy of the Wall Street Journal. Since then, Kagan has been trekking around Capitol Hill, introducing herself to the key senators who get to decide whether she will indeed take Stevens’s seat. Here are some other highlights:
The Washington Post notes that if Kagan is confirmed, Ivy League domination of the high-court bench will be complete. Justice Stevens, in fact, was the only non-Ivy grad.
Though Kagan is known predominantly for her work in the Clinton administration and of course, at Harvard Law—where she was dean before joining the Obama administration—she also did a short stint in private practice at Washington’s very own Williams & Connolly. Her work there will no doubt be scrutinized during her confirmation. Maybe we’ll learn something new about the firm, which is notoriously secretive about client work.
Since Kagan has never previously been a judge, Republicans can’t rely on past rulings as evidence of how she’ll decide cases as a justice. Instead, they’re hoping that memos she wrote during her time as a domestic-policy advisor and an associate White House counsel to President Clinton will offer some insight.
One piece of ammunition Kagan opponents will likely use during her confirmation is the fact that as Harvard Law dean, she restricted campus access to military recruiters because she opposed the ban on openly gay service members. But at least one Republican senator indicates he won’t hold it against her.
There’s another high-profile legal gig available: Kagan’s replacement as Solicitor General. It’s one of the most coveted positions for a lawyer, and it ensures a hefty private-practice paycheck later on. One possible contender is Washington state governor Christine Gregoire.
Marisa M. Kashino joined Washingtonian in 2009 as a staff writer, and became a senior editor in 2014. She oversees the magazine’s real estate and home design coverage, and writes long-form feature stories. She was a 2020 Livingston Award finalist for her two-part investigation into a possible wrongful conviction stemming from a murder in rural Virginia. Kashino lives in Northeast DC.
SCOTUS Watch
It’s been a heck of a week for Elena Kagan. Monday, Obama introduced her to the nation as his pick to replace Justice John Paul Stevens. By Tuesday, we had all been treated to a 17-year-old photo of her playing softball, courtesy of the Wall Street Journal. Since then, Kagan has been trekking around Capitol Hill, introducing herself to the key senators who get to decide whether she will indeed take Stevens’s seat. Here are some other highlights:
The Washington Post notes that if Kagan is confirmed, Ivy League domination of the high-court bench will be complete. Justice Stevens, in fact, was the only non-Ivy grad.
Though Kagan is known predominantly for her work in the Clinton administration and of course, at Harvard Law—where she was dean before joining the Obama administration—she also did a short stint in private practice at Washington’s very own Williams & Connolly. Her work there will no doubt be scrutinized during her confirmation. Maybe we’ll learn something new about the firm, which is notoriously secretive about client work.
Since Kagan has never previously been a judge, Republicans can’t rely on past rulings as evidence of how she’ll decide cases as a justice. Instead, they’re hoping that memos she wrote during her time as a domestic-policy advisor and an associate White House counsel to President Clinton will offer some insight.
One piece of ammunition Kagan opponents will likely use during her confirmation is the fact that as Harvard Law dean, she restricted campus access to military recruiters because she opposed the ban on openly gay service members. But at least one Republican senator indicates he won’t hold it against her.
There’s another high-profile legal gig available: Kagan’s replacement as Solicitor General. It’s one of the most coveted positions for a lawyer, and it ensures a hefty private-practice paycheck later on. One possible contender is Washington state governor Christine Gregoire.
Subscribe to Washingtonian
Follow Washingtonian on Twitter
More>> Capital Comment Blog | News & Politics | Party Photos
Don’t Miss Another Big Story—Get Our Weekend Newsletter
Our most popular stories of the week, sent every Saturday.
Marisa M. Kashino joined Washingtonian in 2009 as a staff writer, and became a senior editor in 2014. She oversees the magazine’s real estate and home design coverage, and writes long-form feature stories. She was a 2020 Livingston Award finalist for her two-part investigation into a possible wrongful conviction stemming from a murder in rural Virginia. Kashino lives in Northeast DC.
Most Popular in News & Politics
Everything You Need to Know About the New First and Second Families
The Internet Is Freaking Out Over Bernie Sanders Social Distancing in His Mittens
Why Were Last Night’s Inauguration Fireworks So Amazing?
Yes, There’s Already a Bobblehead of Bernie Sanders Social Distancing in His Mittens
Governor Hogan Wants Maryland Schools Reopened by March 1
Washingtonian Magazine
January 2021: Joe Town!
View IssueSubscribe
Get Us on Social
Get Us on Social
Related
Video From Fall Real Estate Market Update With Local Leaders
Washingtonian Real Estate Virtual Happy Hour
Videos from Washingtonian’s Wellness Day
Washingtonian Real Estate Virtual Happy Hour
More from News & Politics
Maryland Congressman Andy Harris Tried to Bring a Gun Into the House Chamber
Quiz: How Well Do You Know Your Local Joe Biden and Kamala Harris Trivia?
Why Were Last Night’s Inauguration Fireworks So Amazing?
Biden Removes Trump’s Diet Coke Button—and Makes a Few Other Changes to the Oval Office
Now That the Inauguration Is Over, DC Is Slowly Returning to a New Normal
PHOTOS: Scenes From Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’s Inauguration
Governor Hogan Wants Maryland Schools Reopened by March 1
Four Major DC Sports Teams Are Dogged With Covid Issues