Kagan’s Lack of Judicial Experience Draws Republican Questions

Republicans served notice they will highlight Elena Kagan’s lack of experience as a judge, and the little time she has worked as a courtroom lawyer, when the Senate considers her nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.

That lack of judicial and litigation background -- 14 months as U.S. solicitor general and two years as a private lawyer after finishing law school -- leaves opponents without much of a record from prior cases with which to criticize President Barack Obama’s second high-court nominee.