Congress, Elena Kagan | featured news

Her confirmation assured, Elena Kagan is on the brink of becoming the fourth woman ever to serve as a Supreme Court justice.

Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan won approval Tuesday of a divided Senate Judiciary Committee, moving her a step closer to becoming President Barack Obama's second appointee on the high court.

Her confirmation all but assured, Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan neared the end of a final grueling day of Senate questioning Wednesday, fielding GOP challenges on abortion, gays in the military and other divisive issues while sidestepping Democrats' invitations to blast conservative decisions by the court she's hoping to join.

Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan says she continues to oppose the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy that bans openly gay and lesbian soldiers from military service.