Can we really refer to Elena Kagan as “your next Supreme Court justice” and not “possibly your next potential Supreme Court justice” or something similarly qualified? Probably. Seven Senate Republicans already voted to confirm her as solicitor general just last year. Those seven, plus the four other Republicans who voted for Sonia Sotomayor, plus Scott Brown — because who knows with him — are the twelve Republicans whose votes are realistically in play for Kagan, according to Chuck Todd and friends. Tom Goldstein at SCOTUSblog, meanwhile, expects Kagan to be confirmed by a 65–35 vote, with the support of six Republicans. Either way, chances are high she’ll be confirmed, so you should start getting acquainted. Here she is this morning, accepting President Obama’s nomination. Spoiler: She thinks highly of “the law.”
