Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Associated Press
WASHINGTON
Pushing toward an election-year Supreme Court confirmation vote, a polarized Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved Elena Kagan to be the fourth female justice.
Just one Republican joined Democrats to approve Kagan’s nomination and send it to the full Senate, where she’s expected to win confirmation within weeks.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., broke with his party to cast the sole GOP “yes” vote on President Barack Obama’s nominee to succeed Justice John Paul Stevens, who retired in June. The vote was 13-6.
At the White House, Obama hailed the vote as a “bipartisan affirmation of her strong performance” in confirmation hearings, and said Kagan would be “a fair and impartial” justice who understands the impact of Supreme Court decisions on everyday people’s lives.
He called on the Senate to confirm her before Congress takes a monthlong summer break starting Aug. 7.
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.