Elena Kagan Role Model

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be a member of the highest court in the United States? Ever since she was a teenager, Elena Kagan’s dream was to be a justice for the Supreme Court (Wolfe). On August 7, 2010, Elena's dream of becoming a Supreme Court Justice became true as she was officially appointed to be a justice. Over the course of her career, Kagan has made many major accomplishments, such as becoming the 112th justice of the Supreme Court, the fourth female justice of the Supreme Court, and becoming the first female solicitor general of the United States. By way of her spirit and determination, Elena Kagan serves as a role model for people to follow their dreams and achieve their aspirations. Born April 28, 1960

Court of Appeals and clerked the following year for Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Kagan was then hired to work as an associate at the Washington D.C. Williams & Connolly private law firm, where she worked for approximately three years. After she left Williams & Connolly in 1991, she began her career as a professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School. However, she once again transitioned jobs. This time, Kagan left her teaching job at the request of President Bill Clinton to work as his associate counsel. Throughout her time working alongside the president, she was promoted several times. Her first promotion gave her the position of Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, while her second promotion gave her the position of Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council. When Bill Clinton left office, Kagan left too because she had not been approved to work on the U.S. Court of Appeals by the Senate. Kagan returned to Harvard as a visiting professor in 1999 and continued as a law professor until 2003 when she became the Dean of Harvard Law School. In 2008, following the Presidential Inauguration, President Obama nominated Elena Kagan for the role of solicitor general, which was confirmed by the Senate on March 9, 2009. Kagan made history after her position was confirmed, as she was the first female in American

Similar to the majority of voters, Kagan’s decisions on cases are typically based on her political beliefs. As a member of the democratic party, many of the decisions that Kagan has made as a member of the Supreme Court have leaned more so towards the liberal side of the political spectrum. When dealing with individual rights, Elena’s beliefs are classified as moderately liberal with a score of -5 (InsideGov). For example, she agrees that all women should have the right to abortion and agrees that the right to vote needs greater enforcement. Similarly, Kagan is also classified as moderately liberal when dealing with domestic issues with a score of -5 (InsideGov). For instance, she disagrees that having stricter punishments will reduce crime and agrees with the issue that ObamaCare should be expanded. Unlike individual and domestic issues, Kagan is neutral when it comes to economic issues with a score of 0 (InsideGov). For example, Kagan remains neutral on the issue of privatizing social security. Lastly, when dealing with international issues, Kagan is slightly conservative when dealing with international issues with a score of 1 (InsideGov). For example, she agrees that the military should be expanded, but remains neutral about staying out of