This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8671668.stm

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 11 Version 12
Obama names Supreme Court choice Obama names Supreme Court choice
(about 14 hours later)
US President Barack Obama has nominated Solicitor-General Elena Kagan as the 112th justice to the Supreme Court.US President Barack Obama has nominated Solicitor-General Elena Kagan as the 112th justice to the Supreme Court.
Ms Kagan, a 50-year-old former Harvard Law School dean, was at Mr Obama's side at the White House when he announced, as expected, that she was his pick. Ms Kagan, a 50-year-old former Harvard Law School dean, was at Mr Obama's side at the White House when he announced, as expected, that she was his choice.
She would be the youngest member and third woman on the current court, as well as the first justice in almost four decades not to have been a judge.She would be the youngest member and third woman on the current court, as well as the first justice in almost four decades not to have been a judge.
Republicans warned she would not receive automatic approval.Republicans warned she would not receive automatic approval.
The Senate must confirm whether the nominee - who has spent much of her professional life in academia - can replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens, who is considered one of the court's leading liberals.The Senate must confirm whether the nominee - who has spent much of her professional life in academia - can replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens, who is considered one of the court's leading liberals.
Gay rights advocateGay rights advocate
Democrats welcomed the nomination, but Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Ms Kagan's "brief litigation experience" would be reviewed.Democrats welcomed the nomination, but Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Ms Kagan's "brief litigation experience" would be reviewed.
MARDELL'S AMERICA Will Republicans start a 'Get Shorty!' campaign? Mark Mardell BBC North America editor Read Mark's blogMARDELL'S AMERICA Will Republicans start a 'Get Shorty!' campaign? Mark Mardell BBC North America editor Read Mark's blog
If confirmed, she will become the fourth woman justice on the Supreme Court, following Sonia Sotomayor - also chosen by Mr Obama - Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O'Connor, now retired.If confirmed, she will become the fourth woman justice on the Supreme Court, following Sonia Sotomayor - also chosen by Mr Obama - Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O'Connor, now retired.
Introducing Ms Kagan in the White House East Room as "my friend", Mr Obama said she would bring excellence, independence, integrity and passion to the post.Introducing Ms Kagan in the White House East Room as "my friend", Mr Obama said she would bring excellence, independence, integrity and passion to the post.
The US president said she "is widely regarded as one of the nation's foremost legal minds".The US president said she "is widely regarded as one of the nation's foremost legal minds".
Ms Kagan said she was "honoured and humbled by this nomination".Ms Kagan said she was "honoured and humbled by this nomination".
"I look forward to working with the Senate and thank you, Mr President, for this honour of a lifetime," she said."I look forward to working with the Senate and thank you, Mr President, for this honour of a lifetime," she said.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, a Democrat, said Ms Kagan should be confirmed in the post by early September, after a hearing expected to last a week.Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, a Democrat, said Ms Kagan should be confirmed in the post by early September, after a hearing expected to last a week.
Once Justice Stevens retires, the Supreme Court will have no protestant judges.Once Justice Stevens retires, the Supreme Court will have no protestant judges.
Ms Kagan would be the third Jewish justice on the current court, along with six Catholics.Ms Kagan would be the third Jewish justice on the current court, along with six Catholics.
BIOGRAPHY: ELENA KAGAN Born 28 April, 1960; grew up in New York CityLike President Obama, served on the Harvard Law ReviewWorked for Supreme Court Justice Thurgood MarshallServed in the Clinton administration 1995-1999Appointed Dean of Harvard Law School in 2003Confirmed as US solicitor general March 2009 What is Kagan's philosophy? Profile: Elena Kagan Why court nominee mattersBIOGRAPHY: ELENA KAGAN Born 28 April, 1960; grew up in New York CityLike President Obama, served on the Harvard Law ReviewWorked for Supreme Court Justice Thurgood MarshallServed in the Clinton administration 1995-1999Appointed Dean of Harvard Law School in 2003Confirmed as US solicitor general March 2009 What is Kagan's philosophy? Profile: Elena Kagan Why court nominee matters
The BBC's Richard Lister in Washington says Ms Kagan is regarded as a liberal on most issues.The BBC's Richard Lister in Washington says Ms Kagan is regarded as a liberal on most issues.
But she has worked with conservatives and even attracted a liberal backlash against her support for continuing Bush administration policies on state secrets and the use of military commissions to try terrorism suspects, our correspondent adds.But she has worked with conservatives and even attracted a liberal backlash against her support for continuing Bush administration policies on state secrets and the use of military commissions to try terrorism suspects, our correspondent adds.
Her staunch advocacy of gay rights may concern Republicans.Her staunch advocacy of gay rights may concern Republicans.
She went through a fairly smooth confirmation process in the Senate for her current job this year, when seven Republicans voted for her.She went through a fairly smooth confirmation process in the Senate for her current job this year, when seven Republicans voted for her.
With 59 votes, Senate Democrats would have enough to confirm her, but they would be one short of being able to halt blocking or stalling tactics by any Republican senators.With 59 votes, Senate Democrats would have enough to confirm her, but they would be one short of being able to halt blocking or stalling tactics by any Republican senators.
Early in her career Ms Kagan was a clerk for a US Court of Appeals judge and later for former Justice Thurgood Marshall.Early in her career Ms Kagan was a clerk for a US Court of Appeals judge and later for former Justice Thurgood Marshall.
And like Mr Obama, she worked on the prestigious Harvard Law Review as a student.And like Mr Obama, she worked on the prestigious Harvard Law Review as a student.
Our correspondent says that selection of a Supreme Court justice gives a president the opportunity to influence US public life for decades, as the justices are not bound by term limits.Our correspondent says that selection of a Supreme Court justice gives a president the opportunity to influence US public life for decades, as the justices are not bound by term limits.