August 7: Elena Kagan Joins the Supreme Court (2010)
Prayer Idea
Pray for Justice Elena Kagan and her work on the Supreme Court.
History Note
Elena Kagan was born in New York, New York, on April 28, 1960. She attended Princeton University, Worcester College (Oxford), and Harvard Law School.
Kagan clerked for federal judge Abner Mikva and then for Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall. After a time in private practice, she became a professor at the University of Chicago Law School.
In the late 90s, she worked in the Clinton White House. President Clinton nominated her to be a federal judge in 1999, but the Senate did not act on her nomination. Kagan returned to Harvard Law School as a professor and became the first female dean in 2003.
President Obama appointed her as Solicitor General in 2009 and then nominated her to the Supreme Court in 2010. The Senate confirmed her 63-37.
Kagan is the only sitting justice who came to the Supreme Court with no previous judicial experience.
Elena Kagan officially joined the Supreme Court on August 7, 2010. The Court hosted a formal investiture ceremony on October 1. This photo shows Justice Kagan with Chief Justice John Roberts and President Barack Obama. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza.
Learn More
In this interview, Justice Elena Kagan shares her perspective on the Supreme Court.
Find more resources at Homeschool History.
