US News

Judiciary Committee OKs Kagan

WASHINGTON — Pushing toward an election-year Supreme Court confirmation vote, a polarized Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday 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.

“Elena Kagan will be confirmed,” predicted Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) the Judiciary chairman.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) broke with his party to cast the sole GOP “yes” vote on President Obama’s nominee to succeed retiring Justice John Paul Stevens. The vote was 13-6.

“What’s in Elena Kagan’s heart is that of a good person who adopts a philosophy I disagree with,” Graham said. “She will serve this nation honorably, and it would not have been someone I would have chosen, but the person who did choose, President Obama, I think chose wisely.”

At the White House, Obama called on the Senate to confirm her before Congress’s monthlong summer break starts on Aug. 7.