Elena Kagan

Elena Kagan Age: 50 Born: April 28, 1960 Birthplace: New York City Hunter College High School; graduated 1977 Bachelor's degree in history from Princeton University; graduated 1981 Master of philosophy degree from Oxford in 1983 Harvard Law School; graduated 1986 Experience: Clerk for U.S. Circuit Court Judge Abner Mikva: 1986 Clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall: 1987 Professor, University...

When the Supreme Court took up the question Monday of whether genes could be patented , the justices were clearly concerned about preserving innovation in medicine and biotechnology. But the issue presented by Myriad Genetics' patents on the BRCA genes cuts both ways, leading to a potential split among the justices. On the one hand, allowing patents on a gene could prevent companies from developing new tests and drugs related to that sequence until the patent expires. On the other, barring patents could deter companies from making the huge investments needed to isolate sequences and determine their role in the body.

"Mr. Chairman, the law school I had the good fortune to lead has a kind of motto, spoken each year at graduation. We tell the new graduates that they are ready to enter a profession devoted to "those wise restraints that make us free."

WASHINGTON - The lawyer defending California's ban on same-sex marriage drew skeptical questioning from swing justices Tuesday as the Supreme Court began two historic days of oral arguments considering the rights of gays and lesbians. Charles J. Cooper, whose clients include citizens who voted for California's 2008 Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage, tried to convince the justices that states should have the right to limit marriage to heterosexual couples because they can produce children.

A question of pay Re "L.A. posts city employee salaries," Aug. 7 Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa makes only $232,425 a year. That's dwarfed by salaries of over $300,000 for the police chief, and the general managers of the airports and the harbor. Even the city administrative officer earns more. No wonder Villaraigosa needs freebies from the Lakers and Dodgers. At his low salary, it's a matter of survival — or becoming a couch potato, watching the teams on TV. Seriously, while Bell gave salaries beyond imagination, L.A.'s salaries aren't so far behind.

Racing to danger Re "A grim reminder of danger," June 29 Five CHP patrolmen have died in the line of duty in recent weeks. Perhaps we are reaping the fruit of tolerating drivers who shrink safety margins by flagrantly speeding, driving aggressively and distracting themselves with electronic accessories, especially here in Southern California. Driving I-5 over the Grapevine toward L.A.

Elena Kagan was sworn in as the 112th justice of the Supreme Court on Saturday, opening the first era in U.S. history with three women serving on the nation's premier judicial bench. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. administered the oath at the Supreme Court just two days after the Senate's 63-37 vote Thursday to confirm her nomination and one day after President Obama hosted a White House reception in Kagan's honor. She is not expected to dramatically change the ideological balance of the court because she replaces retired Justice John Paul Stevens, a fellow liberal jurist.

Elena Kagan's elevation to the Supreme Court appeared virtually assured Wednesday, the second day of debate over her confirmation, as a majority of senators declared support for her nomination. Kagan, 50, the U.S. solicitor general, was tapped by President Obama in May to replace retired Justice John Paul Stevens. A floor vote on the nomination is likely Thursday, and Republicans are not expected to attempt a filibuster. For some senators, however, their decision may have consequences beyond confirming the nation's 112th justice.

President Obama on Monday hailed his nominee to the Supreme Court, Elena Kagan, as "one of the nation's foremost legal minds," but Kagan's biggest asset in upcoming confirmation hearings may be her lack of an extensive public record, providing few openings for Republicans to attack. A year after making Kagan his administration's advocate before the Supreme Court, Obama now hopes her personal skills are good enough to craft consensus with the court's conservative majority — and to win Senate confirmation to the position in the first place.

Kagan on the court? Re "Kagan is picked for high court," May 10 Elena Kagan, the president's nominee for the Supreme Court, has the least amount of experience of any nominee in the last three decades. Her judicial experience is zero, as is her real-world experience. President Obama appointed her as solicitor general, where she once argued that the federal government has the power to ban certain books and pamphlets. Responding to this argument for the majority of the court, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote, "As a free-floating test for 1st Amendment coverage, that idea is startling and dangerous."

On the steps of the Supreme Court, moments after their attorneys argued that gays and lesbians should be given the constitutional right to marry Tuesday, California plaintiffs in the Proposition 8 case said they are looking forward to the high court's ruling. “Like all Americans, I believe in equality,” said Sandy Stier, who has been waiting more than a decade to marry her partner, Kris Perry. “But more than anything, I believe in love.” FULL COVERAGE: Same-sex marriage ban Stier said Prop.

New York lawyer Caitlin Halligan, who was first nominated to the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., almost 2 1/2 years ago, has asked President Obama to withdraw her nomination. As The Times noted in an editorial today, Halligan was the victim of a Republican filibuster in which all but one of the GOP senators voting refused to cut off debate on her nomination. Had the nomination proceeded to a floor vote, she almost certainly would have been confirmed. Liberals and Democrats will decry the sandbagging of Halligan, who was accused by Republicans of extremism because she once filed suit against gun manufacturers.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia is alleged to be one of the great intellects of conservative jurisprudence, but his comments during oral arguments over a challenge to the 1965 Voting Rights Act displayed all the mental acuity of a third-tier talk radio bozo. Shelby County, Ala., is making the case against the voting law. Section 5 of the act empowers the federal government to negate new local and state voting rules if they would lead to discrimination against minority voters.

Over the next three months, the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether to end affirmative action, whether to overturn part of one of the most important civil rights laws in our country's history (the Voting Rights Act) and whether gays and lesbians have a constitutional right to the same marriage benefits as heterosexual couples. In almost every term, the justices exercise veto power over fundamental policy questions such as abortion, gun control and freedom of speech and religion.

WASHINGTON - Supreme Court justices were surprisingly skeptical Monday about arguments by a top Justice Department lawyer who in a hearing sought to squelch an anti-wiretapping lawsuit brought by lawyers, journalists and activists. At issue in the surveillance case is the government's power to secretly monitor international phone calls and email under a stepped-up monitoring policy approved by Congress four years ago. It allows U.S. spy agencies to target people or places overseas and to intercept all the phone calls and email to and from these people or places.

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court is not on the ballot in November, but its future direction on issues such as abortion, gay rights, gun rights, voting laws and the role of money in politics depends on who is elected president for the next four years. The justices, who open their annual term Monday, are closely split along ideological lines. The current court has four liberals appointed by Democrats, four conservatives appointed by Republicans, and a centrist Republican in 76-year-old Justice Anthony M. Kennedy.

After more than three hours, Elena Kagan, the solicitor general of the United States, got her chance to speak directly to the panel of senators who will weigh her nomination to be the next Supreme Court justice and promised to do her best and work hard while keeping her mind open to deal with contentious issues. Kagan avoided taking any specific positions Monday on the contentious social issues on which she will likely rule, if confirmed. Nominated to become the 112th justice on the Supreme Court, she took a modest stand while promising to work impartially for justice for all. "I will make no pledges this week other than this one -- that if confirmed, I will remember and abide by all these lessons," she told the Senate Judiciary Committee.

There are (at least) two reasons to pass a law: to address a practical problem and to send a message. A bill by Sen. James Webb (D-Va.) to criminalize lying about military service “for tangible benefit or personal gain” seems to fall into the second category. The Webb bill is a response to last month's Supreme Court decision striking down the Stolen Valor Act, which made it a crime to lie about having received military honors. The decision overturnd the conviction of Xavier Alvarez, a former member of the Three Valleys Municipal Water District governing board in eastern Los Angeles County who falsely claimed that he held the congressional Medal of Honor.  (That was only one of his whoppers.

Re "Roberts shows he puts law above politics," June 30 What a sad state of affairs that we praise the chief justice of the Supreme Court because he "puts law ahead of politics. " Have we stooped that low? Of course, the country can be thankful thatJohn G. Roberts Jr.'s constitutional training brought him to his decision. Our country will be better for it. Are we to take from this that the four justices who voted against the Affordable Care Act put their politics before the law?