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| English.news.cn 2010-05-10 10:22:34 |  |
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| U.S. President Barack Obama speaks to the media at the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, April 9, 2010. Obama here on Friday made a statement on the coal mine accident in West Virginia and the retirement of Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. (Xinhua/Zhang Jun) |
WASHINGTON, May 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama has picked Solicitor General Elena Kagan as nominee to become next Supreme Court justice, NBC news reported Sunday night.
If confirmed by Senate, the 50-year-old Kagan will replace John Paul Stevens, who announced his retirement last month.
Obama was reported to have interviewed four people to take over 90-year-old Stevens' seat in the high court. The other three were Diane Wood, Merrick Garland and Sidney Thomas, all federal appeals court judges.
Obama said earlier he would make his selection by end of May. Attorney General Eric Holder, earlier on Sunday, told NBC's "Meet the Press" that Obama will "have an announcement very soon."
Kagan is a relatively moderate choice for Obama, as she does not have a track record on hot button issues such as abortion and gay marriage. Her job as Solicitor General is to represent the United States in the Supreme Court, and also to determine the legal position that the United States takes in the court.
Formerly dean of the prestigious Harvard Law School, Kagan taught law at Harvard and University of Chicago Law School, where Obama also taught. She became an Associate White House legal counsel under former president Bill Clinton. She was the favored pick for Obama rumored in the media, and went through a Senate confirmation process last year to become the first female solicitor general, winning 61 votes.
Kagan is likely to be tested on the issue of gays in military. Republicans have voiced concern about her opposition to on-campus military recruiting at Harvard because of U.S. policy barring homosexual service members from revealing their sexuality, also known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.
If Kagan was confirmed by the Senate, the Supreme Court would have three female justices. The other two are Ruth Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor, who was also nominated by Obama.
