[Harvard's]Elena Kagan Says “Hello, Obama” (Solicitor General of the United States nominee)

The Docket: Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly ^ | January 5th, 2009 | Julia Reischel

[2ndDivisionVet]

The rumors are true: Elena Kagan, the celebrated dean of Harvard Law School, is President Barack Obama’s choice for Solicitor General of the United States. Below is a copy of the email Kagan sent to the Harvard Law School community to deliver the news, along with new year’s wishes and love for what she calls a “wondrous law school.”

From: Elena Kagan Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 11:15 AM To: HLS Alumni Subject: Announcement

Dear colleagues and friends:

I am writing to all of you - the community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Harvard Law School - to let you know that today President-elect Barack Obama will announce his intention to nominate me to serve as Solicitor General of the United States. If confirmed by the Senate, I will resign the deanship of the Law School and take a leave of absence from the faculty.

I have accepted this nomination because it offers me the opportunity, working under the leadership of the President-elect and his nominee for Attorney General, Eric Holder, to help advance this nation’s commitment to the rule of law at what I think is a critical time in our history. I am honored and grateful, awestruck and excited, to be asked to contribute to this most important endeavor. And perhaps, for me, it adds a special touch of sweetness to the occasion that the person making the nomination, in whose capacity for greatness I deeply believe, is himself a member of the group to which I am writing.

At the same time, I feel today real sadness - a sense of loss of what, if confirmed, I will be leaving that is every bit as strong as my sense of anticipation of what will be to come. Now isn’t the time for me to attempt a grand wrapping-up or final farewell; I don’t in any way want to presume the outcome of the Senate’s consideration. For the present, I’ll say only this: it has been both the joy and the privilege of my life to serve as dean of this most wondrous law school. I love it, and I love the extraordinary community of people - you - who make it up. I look forward to staying in close touch.

My warmest wishes for a happy and healthy new year.

Best, Elena

[2ndDivisionVet]

This position is more important than most people realize - if they've ever even heard of it. Any attorneys here that can explain it more fully?

[2ndDivisionVet]

ping

[Alter Kaker]

The Solicitor General of the United States represents the Federal Government before the Supreme Court. The Solicitor General can also file amicus briefs on behalf of litigants, which can have enormous influence on the Supreme Court.

[ClearCase_guy]

commitment to the rule of law

Gag me. She's a raging feminist and a Clinton crony. She wants rule of leftwing lawyers, nothing else.

[browniexyz]

Agreed. I don’t think many Americans I know share Elena’s conception of the “rule of law.”

[theDentist]

"Well hello 'Bama
yes hello 'Bama
It's so nice
to make me feel
like I belong!

We'll do real swell, 'Bama
I can tell, 'Bama
They'll keep callin'
I'll keep stallin'
We'll just put 'em off

We'll do real keen-o
I'll outdo Ja-net Reno
Leave 'em won'drin'
what the hell
we're up do now.
So-

Take a hike fellas
Even Pelosi can go to Hell, fellas
'Bama will tax 'em all again
'Bama will tax 'em all again
'Bama will tax 'em to way back when
Again!!"

[browniexyz]

She’s another Clinton re-tread!! Any more “news”??

[kaehurowing]

The Solicitor General traditionally wears a morning coat when arguing before the Supreme Court. Wonder how Elena is going to handle that?

[2ndDivisionVet]

I thought lesbians liked to wear men’s clothing.