We're trying to make sure the President, he or she, picks a good, qualified judge, not some unfit character, not some person ... who would be a lousy judge. Now, when I apply that standard to Elena Kagan, I cannot find anything about her that makes her an unfit character to me. Quite frankly, from what I know about her from listening to her for a couple of days and having people tell me about her, is I think she's a very fine person, with stellar character.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Kagan's nomination [JURIST report] last month with a largely party-line 13-6 vote [video]. Earlier that month, the committee delayed its vote [JURIST report] at Sessions's request. In asking for the delay, Sessions cited concerns over Kagan's positions [video] on legislation during the her time working in the Clinton administration and called her answers to questions during the hearing "less than candid." Kagan's confirmation hearing concluded in June [JURIST report]. During the hearings, Kagan addressed the effect of political bias on the court and stresed the importance of not bringing politics to the bench. Kagan's confirmation hearings began [JURIST report] with Democratic and Republican senators offering contrasting interpretations of Kagan's judicial philosophy and lack of experience on the bench. President Barack Obama nominated Kagan [JURIST report] in May to replace former justice John Paul Stevens, who announced his retirement [JURIST report] in April. Kagan became the first woman confirmed as Solicitor General [JURIST report] in 2009.