The Senate today confirmed Elena Kagan as Solicitor General by a vote of 61 to 31. Earlier in the day, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the nomination of Dawn Johnsen to the Senate floor on a near party line vote. People For the American Way President Kathryn Kolbert issued the following statement:

“The confirmation of Elena Kagan to be the nation’s advocate before the Supreme Court is an historic step for women. Just over a century ago, women weren’t allowed to practice law or vote — today’s vote is a sign of how far we’ve come. She will be a passionate and articulate advocate for our laws and Constitution.

“I was deeply disappointed to see so many members of the GOP put politics ahead of principle in opposing the nomination of Dawn Johnsen as head of the Office of Legal Counsel. Under President Bush, the Office of Legal Counsel became the source of extreme and deeply destructive legal sophistry. Dawn Johnsen has the experience, the intellect, and the integrity to bring respectability back to the OLC, and her confirmation should be above petty politics.

“In both cases, too many Senators voted against historic new roles for women in the Department of Justice.”

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Take Action!

• You can sign People For’s petition supporting Dawn Johnsen here.