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Elena Kagan

Elena Kagan Books

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

Elena Kagan is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, born on April 28, 1960. She has made significant contributions to the fields of legal education, academic research, and judicial practice, serving as the Dean of Columbia Law School and as the White House Counsel under the Obama administration.

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“My politics would be, must be, have to be, completely separate from my judgment.”

Would Be Judgment

Author:Elena Kagan

“It is absolutely true that I have served in two Democratic administrations. You can tell something from me and my political views from that.”

Two Political Views Democratic Administration Political View

Author:Elena Kagan

“I think people are great in many different ways. So, I think some justices are great because they have extraordinary wisdom, they have an understanding of how to apply the law in their times in a way that's completely consistent with the text of the law and the purposes of the law, and in a way that's completely right for the times in which they live in.”

People Thinking Way Different Law Purpose Understanding Justice Extraordinary Different Ways Consistent

Author:Elena Kagan

“What my political views or my constitutional views are just doesn't matter.”

Matter Political Views Political View

Author:Elena Kagan

“It was a very cool thing to be a smart girl, as opposed to some other, different kind. And I think that made a great deal of difference to me growing up and in my life afterward.”

Thinking Kind Made Different Girl Differences Deals Growing Up Growing Smart Different Kinds Cool Things Very Cool Smart Girl

Author:Elena Kagan

“I have no regrets. I don't believe in looking back. What I am proudest of? Working really hard... and achieving as much as I could.”

Believe Hard Achieve Regret Don't Believe Looking Back No Regrets Have No Regrets Working Really Hard Live Without Regrets

Author:Elena Kagan

“I think that if there are positions that you can't argue... then the responsibility is probably to resign. If one's own conscience is opposed to the requirements and responsibilities of the job, then it's time to leave the job.”

Ifs Thinking Jobs Responsibility Position Conscience Arguing Requirements Time To Leave

Author:Elena Kagan

“The Supreme Court, of course, has the responsibility of ensuring that our government never oversteps its proper bounds or violates the rights of individuals. But the Court must also recognize the limits on itself and respect the choices made by the American people.”

People Made Government Choices Courses Individual Responsibility Rights Limits Court Bounds Supreme Supreme Court Choices Made

Author:Elena Kagan

“Suppose a State said that, Because we think that the focus of marriage really should be on procreation, we are not going to give marriage licenses anymore to any couple where both people are over the age of 55. Would that be constitutional?”

People Thinking Giving Should Said States Age Focus Couple Gay License Gay Marriage Procreation Licenses

Author:Elena Kagan

“Like all Jews, I was probably at a Chinese restaurant!”

Jew Chinese Restaurants Chinese Food

Author:Elena Kagan

“Law matters, because it keeps us safe, because it protects our most fundamental rights and freedoms, and because it is the foundation of our democracy.”

Matter Law Democracy Rights Protect Safe Foundation Fundamentals Rights And Freedoms Fundamental Rights

Author:Elena Kagan

“American radicals cannot afford to become their own worst enemies. In unity lies their only hope.”

Lying Enemy Worst Unity Radical Worst Enemy

Author:Elena Kagan

“In our own times, a coherent socialist movement is nowhere to be found in the United States. Americans are more likely to speak of a golden past than of a golden future, of capitalism's glories than of socialism's greatness.”

States Past Found Speak United United States Movement Greatness Glory Capitalism Socialism Golden Socialist

Author:Elena Kagan

“If there is an ‘overabundance’ of an idea in the absence of direct governmental action - which there well might be when compared with some ideal state of public debate - then action disfavoring that idea might ‘un-skew,’ rather than skew, public discourse.”

Ifs Wells Ideas States Might Action Ideals Direct Absence Debate Discourse Public Discourse Overabundance

Author:Elena Kagan

“There is no federal constitutional right to same-sex marriage.”

Author:Elena Kagan

“When the Senate ceases to engage nominees in meaningful discussion of legal issues, the confirmation process takes on an air of vacuity and farce, and the Senate becomes incapable of evaluating nominees or appropriately educating the public.”

Process Issues Air Meaningful Cease Discussion Senate Incapable Confirmation Farce Vacuity

Author:Elena Kagan

“I owe a debt of gratitude to two other living Justices. Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg paved the way for me and so many other women in my generation. Their pioneering lives have created boundless possibilities for women in the law. I thank them for their inspiration and also for the personal kindnesses they have shown me.”

Way Two Inspiration Law Justice Kindness Generations Possibility Gratitude Debt Boundless My Generation Ruth Pioneering Debt Of Gratitude Sandra Day O Connor

Author:Elena Kagan

“I do not espouse the unitarian position. President Clinton's assertion of directive authority over administration, more than President Reagan's assertion of a general supervisory authority, raises serious constitutional questions.”

President Position Serious Authority Raises Clinton Administration Assertion President Clinton President Reagan Unitarian

Author:Elena Kagan

“And what my constitutional values are are wholly irrelevant to the job, and so neither you nor anyone else will know what they are.”

Knows Jobs Values Irrelevant

Author:Elena Kagan

“Perhaps most important, judges will have goals. And because this is so, judges will often try to mold and steer the law in order to promote certain ethical values and achieve certain social ends. Such activity is not necessarily wrong or invalid.”

Trying Important Ends Law Certain Values Order Social Goal Achieve Judging Activity Ethical Mold Steers Ethical Values

Author:Elena Kagan

“I think the nine justices think the solicitor general is the 35th clerk.”

Thinking Justice Nine Clerks Solicitors

Author:Elena Kagan

“I've led a school whose faculty and students examine and discuss and debate every aspect of our law and legal system. And what I've learned most is that no one has a monopoly on truth or wisdom. I've learned that we make progress by listening to each other, across every apparent political or ideological divide.”

“If I am confirmed, I will commit to show Heller and the principles articulated in it the full measure of respect that is due to all constitution decisions of the court.”

Ifs Shows Decision Principles Constitution Court Dues Commit

Author:Elena Kagan

“In fact, corporate and union moneys go overwhelmingly to incumbents, so limiting that money, as Congress did in the campaign finance law, may be the single most self-denying thing that Congress has ever done.”

May Self Done Facts Law Unions Congress Campaigns Finance Corporate Incumbents Campaign Finance

Author:Elena Kagan

“It's not that there are no masters, but that there are many. And the job of the solicitor general is to balance those masters and to accommodate them all, each in their proper places, wisely and well and in so doing to represent the people of the United States.”

People Wells States Jobs United United States Masters Balance Accommodate Solicitors

Author:Elena Kagan

“To have the opportunity to lead the Solicitor General's office is the honor of a lifetime. As you know, this is an office with a long and rich tradition, not only of extraordinary legal skill but also of extraordinary professionalism and integrity. That is due, in large measure, to the people who have led it.”

People Knows Long Opportunity Rich Honor Integrity Skills Office Tradition Lifetime Extraordinary Dues Professionalism Solicitors

Author:Elena Kagan

About the Author

Born: April 28, 1960
Known for: Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
Quotes: 26

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