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Obama names Supreme Court choice Obama names Supreme Court choice
(10 minutes 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 pick.
She would be the youngest member and third woman on the current court as well as the first justice in many years 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 many years not to have been a judge.
Republicans warned she would not receive rubber-stamp 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.The Senate must confirm whether the nominee - who has spent much of her professional life in academia - can replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens.
Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, said that her "brief litigation experience" would be reviewed. Gay rights advocate
Mr Obama said Ms Kagan would bring excellence, independence, integrity and passion to the post. Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, said that her "brief litigation experience" must be reviewed.
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 Profile: Elena Kagan
If confirmed, she would join Sonia Sotomayor - also chosen by Mr Obama - and Ruth Bader Ginsburg in bringing the number of women justices on the Supreme Court to three, the highest in the court's history.
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".
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.
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.
Early in her career she was a clerk for a US Court of Appeals judge and later for former Justice Thurgood Marshall. 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.
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.