Elena Kagan Sworn in as 4th Woman in History on Supreme Court

Justice Kagan you can now prove yourself a great jurist for the American people or another government official corrupt by ideology.

How could I forget "activist judge" is the second most popular catch phrase for the Right nowadays? It is in a close race for first with " tax cuts".

Politics aside, I am wondering why is it that there is this notion that a Supreme Court nominee should have judicial experience as a judge. Judicial decisions are not always well received and are sometimes controversial, like the recent Arizona's immigration law and California's anti-gay marriage legislation. If anyone can run and appointed to the highest office of the land like Ronald Reagan (the actor) why not someone with no judicial experience but someone of good character and a respected fellow citizen be nominated to sit on the bench of the nation's highest court. After our system of government is for we the people by the people.

There's something to be said for experience and there's something to be said for bringing in an outsider to bring fresh perspective. It seems that just about everyone, whether on the Left or the Right, will go with experience when the candidate/nominee they like happens to be experienced and will go with the outsider when the candidate/nominee they like happens to be an outsider. Not that Elena Kagan is at all an outsider to the law. She's had a great deal of experience in the law, but not from the perspective of sitting on the bench. As has been pointed out, there have been some other justices in the history of the Supreme Court who had not had experience as a jude prior to coming to the Supreme Court. Most notable of these was the man who was very probably the most important justice in the history of the Supreme Court - Chief Justice John Marshall, appointed by John Adams in 1801 and serving until 1835.

It will be interesting to see if Kagan is judicial or political.

This just another case in which the american peoples wishes were thrown aside. Why doesn't the Associated Press do a poll and see what we think. I bet she would lose.

Did Roberts get the oath right at last???

many forget the former chief justice of the supreme court had never served on the bench till being nominated as an associate justice. he did work as a lawyer though.

How sad that so much is made of the fact that only 4 women in America's history have been suitable for this position. So much for equality.

Congratulation to Justice Kagan. May you have a place in history that elevates you to a position of fairness to all.

my, the first thing that comes to mind is this administration so completely without thought, that this is the best they can come up with for a supreme court judge. this nominee, now judge is without the qualifications on all levels, and will surely be a judge that will rule in line with her ideology.. one which has been at odds with the constitution throughout her professional life. she will make law and not rule on it's merits.. incredibly short sighted and rife with politics..