Things are heating up on the Hill as the Senate prepares for Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan’s confirmation hearings. Here’s hoping everyone can take a breather over the Memorial Day recess.
Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee continue to press for the release of Kagan’s Clinton-era documents before the start of her hearings, scheduled for June 28. They say the fact that Kagan has no judicial experience makes her Clinton record that much more significant. So enjoy the holiday break, Senate Judiciary staffers, because you could soon be sifting through 168,000 pages of memos and e-mails.
But Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, had strong words for Republicans who are suggesting that Kagan’s hearings should be delayed until the records are available. Leahy dealt the gender card, pointing out that similar confirmation schedules for male high-court nominees went unquestioned.
He wasn’t the only one crying sexism this week. Senator Amy Klobuchar took to the Senate floor to slam a Washington Post story about Kagan’s style of dress. Klobuchar is in good company on that one.
Not all conservatives mind Kagan’s lack of judicial experience. Justice Antonin Scalia, the high court’s right-wing firebrand, says he’s pleased with the prospect of a non-judge joining him on the bench.
One of the more interesting votes to keep an eye on will be Senator Arlen Specter’s. As a Republican, he voted against Kagan’s confirmation as solicitor general. Now a Democrat, he says he’s open to voting to confirm her to the Supreme Court. He sent Kagan a letter on Tuesday notifying her of the topics he intends to ask her about during the hearings.
Say what you want about Kagan, but ambition is one thing she’s not short on. While dean of Harvard Law, she had her sights on becoming president of the university. She ended up losing out on the gig the same month that then-senator Barack Obama announced he was making a run for the White House.
SCOTUS Watch: Calm-Before-the-Storm Edition
Scraps over documents, dresses and switched votes dominate the Kagan conversation this week.
Things are heating up on the Hill as the Senate prepares for Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan’s confirmation hearings. Here’s hoping everyone can take a breather over the Memorial Day recess.
Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee continue to press for the release of Kagan’s Clinton-era documents before the start of her hearings, scheduled for June 28. They say the fact that Kagan has no judicial experience makes her Clinton record that much more significant. So enjoy the holiday break, Senate Judiciary staffers, because you could soon be sifting through 168,000 pages of memos and e-mails.
But Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, had strong words for Republicans who are suggesting that Kagan’s hearings should be delayed until the records are available. Leahy dealt the gender card, pointing out that similar confirmation schedules for male high-court nominees went unquestioned.
He wasn’t the only one crying sexism this week. Senator Amy Klobuchar took to the Senate floor to slam a Washington Post story about Kagan’s style of dress. Klobuchar is in good company on that one.
Not all conservatives mind Kagan’s lack of judicial experience. Justice Antonin Scalia, the high court’s right-wing firebrand, says he’s pleased with the prospect of a non-judge joining him on the bench.
One of the more interesting votes to keep an eye on will be Senator Arlen Specter’s. As a Republican, he voted against Kagan’s confirmation as solicitor general. Now a Democrat, he says he’s open to voting to confirm her to the Supreme Court. He sent Kagan a letter on Tuesday notifying her of the topics he intends to ask her about during the hearings.
Say what you want about Kagan, but ambition is one thing she’s not short on. While dean of Harvard Law, she had her sights on becoming president of the university. She ended up losing out on the gig the same month that then-senator Barack Obama announced he was making a run for the White House.
Subscribe to Washingtonian
Follow Washingtonian on Twitter
More>> Capital Comment Blog | News & Politics | Party Photos
Most Popular in News & Politics
Another Mysterious Anti-Trump Statue Has Appeared on the National Mall
What to Know About the Dupont Circle “Deckover” Project
Bans on Underage Vaping, Swastika Graffiti, Synthetic Dyes: New Virginia Laws Go Into Effect in July
Trump Roams White House in Search of an Audience, Dismay in Richmond Cost Levar Stoney, and Miss Pixie’s Will Close
DC Sues More Maryland and DC Drivers
Washingtonian Magazine
July Issue: The "Best Of" Issue
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
How Would a New DC Stadium Compare to the Last One?
The Culture of Lacrosse Is More Complex Than People Think
Did Television Begin in Dupont Circle?
Kings Dominion’s Wild New Coaster Takes Flight in Virginia
More from News & Politics
Every Bus Line in DC Is Changing This Weekend. Here’s What to Know.
We’re Still Litigating “Obliterated,” Apparently; Man Deported After Kicking Dog at Dulles; and “Big Balls” Is Back on the Job
Did Busy Pizza Shops Really Predict US Airstrikes on Iran?
Yet Another Anti-Trump Statue Has Shown Up on the National Mall
8 Takeaways From Usha Vance’s Interview With Meghan McCain
Behind the Scenes of Our Cover Photo Shoot With Alex Ovechkin
Administration Donates Science Foundation’s Alexandria Building to HUD, Officials Scramble to Validate Trump Characterization of Iran Strike, and We Found a Beefy Ethiopian Gem
A Tearful DC Bids Farewell to “Big Balls”; Trump’s Cuts Chill Local Housing Market; and Dermot Mulroney, Who Grew Up in Alexandria, Will Get a Divorce