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Obama names Supreme Court choice Obama names Supreme Court choice
(40 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 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. 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.
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 class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8669268.stm">Profile: Elena Kagan ANALYSIS Mark Mardell, BBC North America editor This is a job for life on the court that interprets the US constitution's impact on the country's law, ruling on such topics as guns, abortion and freedom of speech.
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. Elena Kagan, who worked in the Clinton White House, could influence the shape of America for decades.
Mr Obama left no doubt his pick was political. She, he said, understood that in a democracy powerful voices must not be allowed to drown out those of ordinary people.
The Senate must approve the nomination - Elena Kagan is a liberal replacing a liberal - but she might get a time hard simply because of the fractious political atmosphere at the moment.
Republicans could focus on the fact that she's never been a judge and has a history of opposing the ban on gay people serving in the military.
But some conservatives note she tries to build a consensus based on the law.
If confirmed, she will 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.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.
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.
The nine US Supreme Court justices are appointed for life Why the nominee matters 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 href="/2/hi/americas/8669268.stm">Profile: Elena Kagan class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8669466.stm">Why Supreme Court nominee matters
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.