Judge Elena Kagan
Elena Kagan is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, serving since August 7, 2010. She was nominated by President Barack Obama to succeed retiring Justice John Paul Stevens, making her the fourth woman to serve on the nation’s highest court. Known for her pragmatic liberalism, she frequently serves as a bridge-builder on the bench and writes highly accessible, legally incisive opinions.
Personal Background:
-
- Born: April 28, 1960, in New York City, New York.
- Education: Earned a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University, a Master of Philosophy from Oxford University, and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.
- Clerkships: Clerked for Judge Abner Mikva of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.
Legal and Academic Career:
-
- Academic Leadership: Served as a law professor at the University of Chicago Law School and Harvard Law School, later becoming the first female Dean of Harvard Law School (2003–2009).
- Clinton Administration: Worked as Associate White House Counsel and Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council under President Bill Clinton.
- Solicitor General: Appointed by President Barack Obama as the first female Solicitor General of the United States, representing the federal government before the Supreme Court from 2009 to 2010.
Judicial Philosophy and Notable Stances:
-
- Statutory Interpretation: Embraces a methodology close to textualism, famously stating in 2015 that “we are all textualists now,” though she applies it to achieve progressive or pragmatic legal outcomes.
- Administrative Law: Strongly defends the authority and expertise of federal regulatory agencies, frequently dissenting from the conservative majority’s efforts to dismantle or limit the administrative state.
- Voting Rights and Speech: Consistently votes to protect voting access, counter partisan gerrymandering, and preserve established civil rights protections.
