Changes

==Education==

==Education==

* 1981 – Earned her Bachelor’s Degree from [[Princeton University]], summa cum laude.

* 1981 – Earned her bachelor's degree from [[Princeton University]], summa cum laude.

* 1983 – Earned her Master of [[Philosophy]] degree from Worcester College at Oxford University

* 1983 – Earned her Master of [[Philosophy]] degree from Worcester College at Oxford University

* 1986 – Received her Juris Doctor at [[Harvard]] Law School

* 1986 – Received her Juris Doctor at [[Harvard]] Law School

* 2003 – Appointed as first female dean at Harvard Law School, after nomination by then Harvard University president [[Lawrence Summers]].

* 2003 – Appointed as first female dean at Harvard Law School, after nomination by then Harvard University president [[Lawrence Summers]].

* 2005-2009 – Began service as a member of the Research Advisory Council of the Goldman Sachs Global Markets Institute.

* 2005-2009 – Began service as a member of the Research Advisory Council of the Goldman Sachs Global Markets Institute.

* 2009 – Became the first woman to hold the position of [[Solicitor General]] of the U.S. <ref>[http://faithfulinprayer.wordpress.com ''Who is Elena Kagan''], May 12, 2010</ref><ref>[http://97.74.65.51/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=34854  FrontPageMagazine.com | Monday, May 18, 2009]</ref>

* 2009 – Became the first woman to hold the position of [[Solicitor General]] of the U.S.<ref>[http://faithfulinprayer.wordpress.com ''Who is Elena Kagan''], May 12, 2010</ref><ref>[http://97.74.65.51/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=34854  FrontPageMagazine.com | Monday, May 18, 2009]</ref>

==Affection for Barack Obama==

==Affection for Barack Obama==

==Nomination to the Supreme Court==

==Nomination to the Supreme Court==

On May 10, 2010, President Obama nominated Kagan to fill the seat of retiring Supreme Court justice [[John Paul Stevens]]. The 50 year old (in 2010) Kagan has years of experience in the legal field but had never served on the judicial bench, until her swearing in on August 7 , 2010 as a Supreme Court justice.  Kagan is the third woman currently seated on the court, and her confirmation marks the the first time in [[American history]] that the Supreme Court has no [[Protestant]] members, as the Jewish Kagan replaced the sole [[Protestant]], Stevens. <ref>ABC news, ''The Conversation: Elena Kagan Nominated to Supreme Court'', May 10, 2010</ref> Due to her young age, Kagan could potentially serve decades on the Court.<ref>God allowing.</ref>  

On May 10, 2010, President Obama nominated Kagan to fill the seat of retiring Supreme Court justice [[John Paul Stevens]]. The 50 year old (in 2010) Kagan has years of experience in the legal field but had never served on the judicial bench, until her swearing in on August 7, 2010 as a Supreme Court justice.  Kagan is the third woman currently seated on the court, and her confirmation marks the first time in [[American history]] that the Supreme Court has no [[Protestant]] members, as the Jewish Kagan replaced the sole [[Protestant]], Stevens.<ref>ABC news, ''The Conversation: Elena Kagan Nominated to Supreme Court'', May 10, 2010</ref> Due to her young age, Kagan could potentially serve decades on the Court.<ref>God allowing.</ref>  

Documents from Kagan's service in the Clinton White House have served to reinforce the conception that Kagan is "a politically savvy, sometimes hard-edged strategist whose views of the Constitution are at odds with those of conservatives", and that she is possessed with "a sharp intellect and somewhat territorial; highly opinionated but eager to facilitate consensus."  

Documents from Kagan's service in the Clinton White House have served to reinforce the conception that Kagan is "a politically savvy, sometimes hard-edged strategist whose views of the Constitution are at odds with those of conservatives", and that she is possessed with "a sharp intellect and somewhat territorial; highly opinionated but eager to facilitate consensus."  

{{cquote|is truly a person of the political left - now they call themselves progressives - one who has a history of working to advance the values of the left wing of the Democratic Party, and whose philosophy of judging allows a judge to utilize the power of their office to advance their vision for what America should be.}}

{{cquote|is truly a person of the political left - now they call themselves progressives - one who has a history of working to advance the values of the left wing of the Democratic Party, and whose philosophy of judging allows a judge to utilize the power of their office to advance their vision for what America should be.}}

Kagan was also criticized for revealing little about what kind of justice she would be in weeks of private  meetings with individual senators and many days of testimony before the Senate Judiciary panel, although she had penned a law review article criticizing Supreme Court nominees for obfuscating their views before the Senate. Kagan avoided questions about her personal beliefs on a variety of critical issues and repeatedly refused to give her opinion on  Supreme Court rulings. <ref>CBS news, ''Elena Kagan Confirmed as Supreme Court Justice'', Aug. 5, 2010</ref>

Kagan was also criticized for revealing little about what kind of justice she would be in weeks of private  meetings with individual senators and many days of testimony before the Senate Judiciary panel, although she had penned a law review article criticizing Supreme Court nominees for obfuscating their views before the Senate. Kagan avoided questions about her personal beliefs on a variety of critical issues and repeatedly refused to give her opinion on  Supreme Court rulings.<ref>CBS news, ''Elena Kagan Confirmed as Supreme Court Justice'', Aug. 5, 2010</ref>

==Activity and ideology==

==Activity and ideology==

In 1987, Kagan was a law clerk for Judge Abner Mikva, a far-left judge on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, and in 1988 she served justice Thurgood Marshall on the Supreme Court. The latter is considered by some to be the most [[liberal]] Supreme Court justice in American history, and that Kagan called him her legal hero is troubling to conservatives.<ref>''Why Ultra-Liberal Obama Needs Kagan On the Court'', Fox News,  May 10, 2010</ref>

In 1987, Kagan was a law clerk for Judge Abner Mikva, a far-left judge on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, and in 1988 she served justice Thurgood Marshall on the Supreme Court. The latter is considered by some to be the most [[liberal]] Supreme Court justice in American history, and that Kagan called him her legal hero is troubling to conservatives.<ref>''Why Ultra-Liberal Obama Needs Kagan On the Court'', Fox News,  May 10, 2010</ref>

At Princeton,  Kagan was see as a reserved and and discreet person, politically "progressive and thoughtful but well within the mainstream of the ... sort of liberal, democratic, progressive tradition, and everything with lower case.”  Kagan, future N.Y. Governor Elliot Spitzer and certain other campus leaders were members of the ''Coordinating Council of the Campaign for a Democratic University'', which saw the administration as taking too much authority upon themselves, and signed a manifesto opposing it which appeared in the university paper, the ‘Prince.’ The group sought to “effect a fundamental restructuring of University governance,” and charged that “the administration rules this campus by decree. <ref>http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2010/05/03/26081/print ''Reserved passion: Kagan ’81'', The Daily Princetonian, May 3rd, 2010</ref>

At Princeton,  Kagan was see as a reserved and discreet person, politically "progressive and thoughtful but well within the mainstream of the ... sort of liberal, democratic, progressive tradition, and everything with lower case.”  Kagan, future N.Y. Governor Elliot Spitzer and certain other campus leaders were members of the ''Coordinating Council of the Campaign for a Democratic University'', which saw the administration as taking too much authority upon themselves, and signed a manifesto opposing it which appeared in the university paper, the ‘Prince.’ The group sought to “effect a fundamental restructuring of University governance,” and charged that “the administration rules this campus by decree.<ref>http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2010/05/03/26081/print ''Reserved passion: Kagan ’81'', The Daily Princetonian, May 3rd, 2010</ref>

On November 10, 1980, a week after Ronald Reagan’s presidential victory, Kagan  submitted to ''The Daily Princetonian''  a personal essay titled,  “Fear and Loathing in Brooklyn,” in which she  explains that having worked some 14 hours a day, six days a week for the election of  liberal candidate Liz Holtzman, she wept when the candidate lost.” She expressed that due to her background,  "I absorbed such liberal principles early; more to the point, I have retained them fairly intact to this day."  Reflecting on Reagan's win and the liberal loss, she stated,  

On November 10, 1980, a week after Ronald Reagan’s presidential victory, Kagan  submitted to ''The Daily Princetonian''  a personal essay titled,  “Fear and Loathing in Brooklyn,” in which she  explains that having worked some 14 hours a day, six days a week for the election of  liberal candidate Liz Holtzman, she wept when the candidate lost.” She expressed that due to her background,  "I absorbed such liberal principles early; more to the point, I have retained them fairly intact to this day."  Reflecting on Reagan's win and the liberal loss, she stated,  

Looking back on last Tuesday [election day], I can see that our gut response -- our emotion-packed conclusion that the world had gone mad, that liberalism was dead and that there was no longer any place for the ideals we held or the beliefs we espoused -- was a false one. In my more rational moments, I can now argue that the next few years will be marked by American disillusionment with conservative programs and solutions, and that a new, revitalized, perhaps more leftist left will once again come to the fore...But somehow, one week after the election, these comforting thoughts do not last long. Self-pity still sneaks up, and I wonder how all this could possibly have happened and where on earth I’ll be able to get a job next year.

Looking back on last Tuesday [election day], I can see that our gut response -- our emotion-packed conclusion that the world had gone mad, that liberalism was dead and that there was no longer any place for the ideals we held or the beliefs we espoused -- was a false one. In my more rational moments, I can now argue that the next few years will be marked by American disillusionment with conservative programs and solutions, and that a new, revitalized, perhaps more leftist left will once again come to the fore...But somehow, one week after the election, these comforting thoughts do not last long. Self-pity still sneaks up, and I wonder how all this could possibly have happened and where on earth I’ll be able to get a job next year.

Even after the returns came in, I found it hard to conceive of the victories of these anonymous but Moral Majority-backed opponents of Senators Church, McGovern, Bayh and Culver, these avengers of 'innocent life' and the B-1 Bomber, these beneficiaries of a general turn to the right and a profound disorganization on the left.<ref> [http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2010/05/03/26082/print/ “To the Final Conflict: Socialism in New York City,] 1900-1933,</ref>

Even after the returns came in, I found it hard to conceive of the victories of these anonymous but Moral Majority-backed opponents of Senators Church, McGovern, Bayh and Culver, these avengers of 'innocent life' and the B-1 Bomber, these beneficiaries of a general turn to the right and a profound disorganization on the left.<ref>[http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2010/05/03/26082/print/ “To the Final Conflict: Socialism in New York City,] 1900-1933,</ref>

</blockquote>

</blockquote>

For her senior college thesis at Princeton, she analyzed the failure of socialism in New York in the early 20th century, a movement which her father and older brother sympathized with. Although the 153-page paper, ''To the Final Conflict: [[Socialism]] in New York City, 1900-1933,'' was written while Kagan was only 22, and was more of a dispassionate examination of the internal divisions in the movement that led to its decline, <ref>''For Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, a history of pragmatism over partisanship'', Washington Post, May 11, 2010</ref> some perceive it as lamenting "the non-existence of a viable socialist movement in the U.S."<ref>http://www.examiner.com/x-2581-St-Louis-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2010m4d10-How-Justice-Stevens-retirement-might-benefit-gun-rights</ref>Statements that some see as showing sympathy with socialism include:  

For her senior college thesis at Princeton, she analyzed the failure of socialism in New York in the early 20th century, a movement which her father and older brother sympathized with. Although the 153-page paper, ''To the Final Conflict: [[Socialism]] in New York City, 1900-1933,'' was written while Kagan was only 22, and was more of a dispassionate examination of the internal divisions in the movement that led to its decline,<ref>''For Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, a history of pragmatism over partisanship'', Washington Post, May 11, 2010</ref> some perceive it as lamenting "the non-existence of a viable socialist movement in the U.S."<ref>http://www.examiner.com/x-2581-St-Louis-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2010m4d10-How-Justice-Stevens-retirement-might-benefit-gun-rights</ref> Statements that some see as showing sympathy with socialism include:  

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<blockquote>

Through its own internal feuding, then, the SP [Socialist Party] exhausted itself forever and further reduced labor radicalism in New York to the position of marginality and insignificance from which it has never recovered. The story is sad but also a chastening one for those who, more than a half century after socialism’s decline, still wish to change America.<ref>The thesis has been removed from the Princeton University site, and electronic dissemination prohibited, while a fee of $54.60 is charged for purchase: http://www.princeton.edu/~mudd/news/kagan.pdf</ref>

Through its own internal feuding, then, the SP [Socialist Party] exhausted itself forever and further reduced labor radicalism in New York to the position of marginality and insignificance from which it has never recovered. The story is sad but also a chastening one for those who, more than a half century after socialism’s decline, still wish to change America.<ref>The thesis has been removed from the Princeton University site, and electronic dissemination prohibited, while a fee of $54.60 is charged for purchase: http://www.princeton.edu/~mudd/news/kagan.pdf</ref>

However, history professor Sean Wilentz, who advised Kagan on her senior thesis, believes Kagan was adept at removing her personal beliefs from her academic research on labor and radical history, and is far from being a socialist.<ref>The Daily Princetonian, May 3rd, 2010</ref>

However, history professor Sean Wilentz, who advised Kagan on her senior thesis, believes Kagan was adept at removing her personal beliefs from her academic research on labor and radical history, and is far from being a socialist.<ref>The Daily Princetonian, May 3rd, 2010</ref>

An associate White House counsel beginning from 1995-99, Kagan recommended that the federal government support a case in favor of  [[religious freedom]]. The California Supreme Court had ruled that a landlord violated a state law prohibiting housing discrimination by refusing to rent an apartment to an unwed couple because she considered sex outside marriage to be a sin. Kagan rejected the California justices’ rationalization used in ruling against the landlord, that the landlord’s religious freedom was not burdened because she could get another job.<ref>'Kagan Expressed Broad View of Religious Freedom'', New York Times, June 11, 2010</ref>

An associate White House counsel beginning from 1995–99, Kagan recommended that the federal government support a case in favor of  [[religious freedom]]. The California Supreme Court had ruled that a landlord violated a state law prohibiting housing discrimination by refusing to rent an apartment to an unwed couple because she considered sex outside marriage to be a sin. Kagan rejected the California justices’ rationalization used in ruling against the landlord, that the landlord’s religious freedom was not burdened because she could get another job.<ref>'Kagan Expressed Broad View of Religious Freedom'', New York Times, June 11, 2010</ref>

In an abortion case pertaining to a prisoner who sought the state to pay for her murder of the preborn infant, Kagan sought to persuade then president Clinton to choose a version of the bill that would pass, while protecting a woman's right to abortion.<ref>''Kagan Expressed Broad View of Religious Freedom'', New York Times, June 11, 2010</ref>  

In an abortion case pertaining to a prisoner who sought the state to pay for her murder of the preborn infant, Kagan sought to persuade then president Clinton to choose a version of the bill that would pass, while protecting a woman's right to abortion.<ref>''Kagan Expressed Broad View of Religious Freedom'', New York Times, June 11, 2010</ref>  

Anne-Marie Slaughter, who became friendly with Kagan when both were Sachs Scholars at Oxford, and later taught with her at Chicago and Harvard law schools. opined that Kagan “knows how to pick her battles and stand up for what she needs to stand up for without alienating people unnecessarily. That’s a very valuable skill set, particularly at a place as political as Harvard Law School.”  Early in her tenure Kagan pleased students by renovating both the student center and the out-of-date gymnasium, and by ensuring that free coffee and hot chocolate were available in the main classroom building and in the library.  

Anne-Marie Slaughter, who became friendly with Kagan when both were Sachs Scholars at Oxford, and later taught with her at Chicago and Harvard law schools. opined that Kagan “knows how to pick her battles and stand up for what she needs to stand up for without alienating people unnecessarily. That’s a very valuable skill set, particularly at a place as political as Harvard Law School.”  Early in her tenure Kagan pleased students by renovating both the student center and the out-of-date gymnasium, and by ensuring that free coffee and hot chocolate were available in the main classroom building and in the library.  

Also while at Harvard, Kagan supported a censorship and banning of participation by the United States Armed Forces in recruitment that is made available to hundreds of other employers. She signed onto a law brief in 2004 urging the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] to overturn the [[Solomon Amendment]], a law that denies federal funding to any university that “has a policy or practice … that either prohibits, or in effect prevents” military personnel “from gaining access to campuses, or access to students … on campuses [including Harvard Law Schoo], for purposes of military recruiting  that they not discriminate against recruitment by the U.S. Armed Forces.''<ref>Rumsfeld v. FAIR, Docket No. 04-1152, 2004 U.S. Briefs 1152</ref>. A federal appeals court judged the law to be unconstitutional, but the U.S. Supreme Court rejected her argument by a vote of 8-0.  But Harvard University continues to ban [[ROTC]] to this day.<ref>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/service-academy-parents/724749-interesting-article-about-rotc.html</ref>  

Also while at Harvard, Kagan supported a censorship and banning of participation by the United States Armed Forces in recruitment that is made available to hundreds of other employers. She signed onto a law brief in 2004 urging the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] to overturn the [[Solomon Amendment]], a law that denies federal funding to any university that “has a policy or practice … that either prohibits, or in effect prevents” military personnel “from gaining access to campuses, or access to students … on campuses [including Harvard Law Schoo], for purposes of military recruiting  that they not discriminate against recruitment by the U.S. Armed Forces.''.<ref>Rumsfeld v. FAIR, Docket No. 04-1152, 2004 U.S. Briefs 1152</ref>  A federal appeals court judged the law to be unconstitutional, but the U.S. Supreme Court rejected her argument by a vote of 8-0.  But Harvard University continues to ban [[ROTC]] to this day.<ref>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/service-academy-parents/724749-interesting-article-about-rotc.html</ref>  

Kagan opposed military recruiters from being at Harvard because of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy which attempted to prevent homosexual relations in the military. She characterized it as “a profound wrong—a moral injustice of the first order … a wrong that tears at the fabric of our own community, because some of our members cannot, while others can, devote their professional careers to their country.”<ref>[http://97.74.65.51/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=34854  FrontPageMagazine.com | Monday, May 18, 2009]</ref>  

Kagan opposed military recruiters from being at Harvard because of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy which attempted to prevent homosexual relations in the military. She characterized it as “a profound wrong—a moral injustice of the first order … a wrong that tears at the fabric of our own community, because some of our members cannot, while others can, devote their professional careers to their country.”<ref>[http://97.74.65.51/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=34854  FrontPageMagazine.com | Monday, May 18, 2009]</ref>  

Regarding [[Capital Punishment]], In her Solicitor general confirmation hearing, 2009, Kagan also stated, “I am fully prepared to argue, consistent with Supreme Court precedents, that the death penalty is constitutional.”<ref>http://documents.nytimes.com/elena-kagan-documents#document/p303</ref>

Regarding [[Capital Punishment]], In her Solicitor general confirmation hearing, 2009, Kagan also stated, “I am fully prepared to argue, consistent with Supreme Court precedents, that the death penalty is constitutional.”<ref>http://documents.nytimes.com/elena-kagan-documents#document/p303</ref>

Kagan also apparently supports greater Presidential power. In a June, 2001 Harvard Law Review article,<ref>http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/04/12/kagan/Kagan-_Presidential_Administration.pdf</ref> Kagan defended the [[Clinton administration]]'s assertion of the right to direct federal regulatory agencies without congressional or court involvement. In review of this, William F. West, a professor who specializes in federal administration at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M, stated, "She is certainly a fan of presidential power."<ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/01/06/obama_taps_harvard_law_school_dean_as_solicitor_general?mode=PF Boston Globe], January 6, 2009</ref> Neal Katyal, who has succeeded Kagan as Solicitor General, also was critical of her support of expanded executive power. <ref>http://www.yalelawjournal.org/pdf/115-9/Katyal.pdf</ref> However, in an 2001 article in the Harvard Law, Kagan wrote that while she largely welcomed Clinton's expanded  presidential control, she cautioned, “President Clinton’s assertion of directive authority over administration, more than President Reagan’s assertion of a general supervisory authority, raises serious constitutional questions.”<ref>New York Times, Politics, ''Kagan's Notable Statements and Writings'', May 9, 2010</ref>

Kagan also apparently supports greater Presidential power. In a June, 2001 Harvard Law Review article,<ref>http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/04/12/kagan/Kagan-_Presidential_Administration.pdf</ref> Kagan defended the [[Clinton administration]]'s assertion of the right to direct federal regulatory agencies without congressional or court involvement. In review of this, William F. West, a professor who specializes in federal administration at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M, stated, "She is certainly a fan of presidential power."<ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/01/06/obama_taps_harvard_law_school_dean_as_solicitor_general?mode=PF Boston Globe], January 6, 2009</ref> Neal Katyal, who has succeeded Kagan as Solicitor General, also was critical of her support of expanded executive power.<ref>http://www.yalelawjournal.org/pdf/115-9/Katyal.pdf</ref> However, in an 2001 article in the Harvard Law, Kagan wrote that while she largely welcomed Clinton's expanded  presidential control, she cautioned, “President Clinton’s assertion of directive authority over administration, more than President Reagan’s assertion of a general supervisory authority, raises serious constitutional questions.”<ref>New York Times, Politics, ''Kagan's Notable Statements and Writings'', May 9, 2010</ref>

In 2003, Elena Kagan presented an oral argument before the U.S. Supreme Court, defending the government'  federal campaign finance law in ''Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission'', in which the FEC had outlawed corporations, including non-profits, from spending funds from their general treasuries to pay for campaign ads. The specific cause was government opposition to a 90-minute documentary by the non-profit organization, [[Citizens United]], opposing [[Hillary Clinton]], then candidate for president. The Court rejected the government's argument and invalidated the law as unconstitutional, <ref>[http://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/08-205%5bReargued%5d.pdf Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission]</ref> with Chief Justice [[John Roberts]] commenting, "we don't put our First Amendment rights in the hands of FEC bureaucrats."<ref>David N. Bossie,  ''Elena Kagan: Hostile to free speech?'', The Washington Post, Friday, May 21, 2010; A17 </ref>   

In 2003, Elena Kagan presented an oral argument before the U.S. Supreme Court, defending the government'  federal campaign finance law in ''Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission'', in which the FEC had outlawed corporations, including non-profits, from spending funds from their general treasuries to pay for campaign ads. The specific cause was government opposition to a 90-minute documentary by the non-profit organization, [[Citizens United]], opposing [[Hillary Clinton]], then candidate for president. The Court rejected the government's argument and invalidated the law as unconstitutional,<ref>[http://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/08-205%5bReargued%5d.pdf Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission]</ref> with Chief Justice [[John Roberts]] commenting, "we don't put our First Amendment rights in the hands of FEC bureaucrats."<ref>David N. Bossie,  ''Elena Kagan: Hostile to free speech?'', The Washington Post, Friday, May 21, 2010; A17</ref>   

Kagan has extensive ties to Goldman-Sachs, a financial institution under federal investigation.<ref>http://www.mainjustice.com/2010/04/27/kagan-sat-on-goldman-sachs-board/</ref>

Kagan has extensive ties to Goldman-Sachs, a financial institution under federal investigation.<ref>http://www.mainjustice.com/2010/04/27/kagan-sat-on-goldman-sachs-board/</ref>