Wisconsin’s two U.S. Senators help open confirmation hearings for a new Supreme Court nominee. Democratic Senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold both sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which began considering the nomination of Elena Kagan Monday on Capitol Hill.
Kohl (D-WI) says the hearings will help determine whether Kagan is right for the high court. He told the Solicitor General of the U.S. that, while she may not be able to talk about how she will decide cases before the high court, members of the committee have the right to hear about her judicial philosophy on issues that could come up in the future.
Senator Feingold (D-WI) says justices have an enormous responsibility to the American people. The Wisconsin Democrat also expressed a desire for the next justice to work toward repairing the reputation of the Supreme Court, which Feingold believes was damaged after a decision in the Citizens United case earlier this year that overturned corporate spending restriction on political campaigns.
Republicans on the committee criticized Kagan’s lack of experience on the bench, since she has primarily worked as an attorney. Kohl echoed that statement slightly, describing her judicial philosophy as “almost invisible.”
Feingold called on Kagan to be forthcoming with answers for the committee, so there can be an honest discussion about her nomination.
Confirmation hearings are expected to continue through the rest of the week.