Elena Kagan is an American lawyer who serves as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. She was nominated by President Barack Obama on May 10, 2010, and she has served since August 7, 2010.
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Kagan was born in New York City in 1960. She graduated from Princeton University, Oxford University, and Harvard Law School. After law school, Kagan clerked for Judge Abner Mikva of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and for Justice Thurgood Marshall of the Supreme Court.
Kagan then served as a professor at the University of Chicago Law School and as the dean of Harvard Law School. In 2009, President Obama nominated Kagan to be Solicitor General of the United States. She served in that position until she was nominated to the Supreme Court.
Kagan is the fourth woman to serve on the Supreme Court. She is considered to be a liberal justice, and her views are generally in line with those of Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor.
What cases has Elena Kagan done?
Elena Kagan has been a member of the Supreme Court since 2010, and she has written opinions in a number of important cases. Here are some of the most notable cases that she has participated in:
Obergefell v. Hodges (2015): This case legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Kagan wrote a concurring opinion in which she argued that the right to same-sex marriage is inherent in the concept of equal protection under the law.
King v. Burwell (2016): This case upheld the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate. Kagan wrote a concurring opinion in which she argued that the individual mandate is a valid exercise of Congress’s taxing power.
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National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012): This case upheld the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion. Kagan voted with the majority in this case, but she wrote a separate opinion in which she argued that the Medicaid expansion was a valid exercise of Congress’s spending power.
Miller v. Alabama (2012): This case ruled that mandatory life sentences without the possibility of parole for juveniles are unconstitutional. Kagan wrote a concurring opinion in which she argued that mandatory life sentences without parole for juveniles violate the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.
Williams-Yulee v. Florida Bar (2015): This case ruled that states cannot prohibit judicial candidates from personally soliciting campaign funds. Kagan wrote the majority opinion in this case, arguing that the First Amendment protects judicial candidates’ right to personally solicit campaign funds.
These are just a few of the many cases that Elena Kagan has participated in. She is a thoughtful and skilled jurist, and her opinions have had a significant impact on American law.
How many cases did Elena Kagan argue before the Supreme Court?
As Solicitor General, Elena Kagan argued 31 cases before the Supreme Court. She won 22 of those cases, lost 7, and had 2 that were dismissed.
Gonzales v. Raich (2005): This case upheld the federal government’s power to regulate medical marijuana even if it is legal under state law. Kagan argued on behalf of the government and won the case.
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010): This case allowed corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns. Kagan argued against the decision and lost.
National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012): This case upheld the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate. Kagan argued on behalf of the government and won the case.
Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project (2010): This case upheld the federal government’s power to restrict the activities of groups that provide support to designated terrorist organizations. Kagan argued on behalf of the government and won the case.
Solyndra v. Department of Energy (2011): This case challenged the government’s decision to provide financial assistance to Solyndra, a solar panel company. Kagan argued on behalf of the government and won the case.
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