A Third Woman on the Supreme Court?

Soon women will likely be a real force on the highest court in the land. Solicitor General Elena Kagan has been nominated to replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens. If approved, for the first time in history, three women will be serving on the High Court at the same time; giving women a real voice according to the White House Project. “One woman is newsworthy – she’s a first. Two is better – but still an exception, not the rule. Three out of nine – one in three – stops being unusual.”

President Obama, yesterday, announced Kagan as his choice to fill the soon-to-be vacant seat and if confirmed by the Senate, she would not only be the youngest justice ever to take a seat, but she will also become the fourth female justice ever on the United States Supreme Court.

Kagan’s fate will be up to the Senate dominated by Democrats, who with 59 votes have more than enough to confirm her. However, for the second time around, we can expect an intense Supreme Court confirmation debate – since the Democrats are one vote shy of being able to stop a Republican stalling effort.

Here’s more about Kagan:

She’s a woman of firsts. She was the first female dean of Harvard Law School in the school’s 186-year history and the first woman to serve as the top Supreme Court lawyer for any administration. Learn more about her and her political leanings on MSNBC.

Watch President Obama nominate her and highlight her skills as a lawyer and leader.

From “don’t ask, don’t tell” to her beliefs on executive power, here are the 10 biggest issues Kagan will have to face if chosen.

“The power I exert on the court depends on the power of
my arguments, not on my gender.” Sandra Day O’Connor