Kagan One Step Closer

Solicitor General Elena Kagan has the Supreme Court in her sights after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 13-6 to forward her nomination to the full Senate.

The committee voted largely along party lines, however, one rogue Republican broke the trend and voted in support of Kagan’s nomination, Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.).

Graham said that although Kagan would not have been his first choice, President Barack Obama “chose wisely.”

President Obama applauded the committee for endorsing his nomination and credited it for giving Kagan time to make her case. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) said after Tuesday’s vote that Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) was “fair” in giving Republican  members extra time to question the president’s nominee.

Kagan is expected to be confirmed by the full Senate and a vote should come before the August recess so she can be seated as Supreme Court Justice before the court’s next session beginning in October.