Elena Kagan approved by Senate Judiciary Committee

Posted AzBlueMeanie:

The Senate Judiciary Committee largely voted along party lines, 13-6, to send the nomination of Elena Kagan to the full Senate for consideration this month or in early August. Kagan nomination approved by Senate judiciary panel:

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who previously voted for President Obama's nomination of Justice Sonia Sotomayor, was again the only Republican on the panel to support Kagan.

"I think there's a good reason for a conservative to vote yes," Graham told his colleagues. He added that she was "smart . . . and she's funny, that goes a long way in my book."

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The nomination now moves to the full Senate, which is expected to take up the matter after an energy legislation debate that should begin next week. That makes a confirmation vote likely in the first week of August, before the Senate adjourns for a 5 1/2-week break.