Franken on Kagan’s nomination
DFL Sen. Al Franken issued this statement on President Obama's decision to nominate Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court:
"Elena Kagan is a brilliant and superbly qualified nominee. As the former Dean of Harvard Law School and first woman to be Solicitor General of the United States, she will bring a diverse background of impressive experiences to the bench. She has a record of bringing together people with a wide range of viewpoints. And importantly, Kagan is a nominee from outside the "judicial monastery"--that is one of her greatest strengths as a nominee.
"But just as it's important for Supreme Court justices to have a diversity of legal backgrounds, it's also thrilling to see the Court begin to reflect the reality of our diverse population. I'm pleased the President has chosen to nominate another woman to the Court, and one who has been confirmed for office by members of both political parties should be confirmed without unnecessary difficulty.
"I feel honored to serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee. The confirmation hearings for a Supreme Court Justice are among our greatest responsibilities, and once again I will prepare for them with care. As with Justice Sotomayor's confirmation, I will be seeking the opinions of some of Minnesota's best legal minds before I ask my questions."
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