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Elena Kagan, building on a long, diverse legal career in government and academia, was officially sworn in as the 112th justice at the Supreme Court on Saturday, promising to “faithfully and impartially” discharge her new judicial duties.

 

 

With friends, family and four of her new colleagues looking on, the 50-year-old Kagan took the judicial oath in the court’s wood-paneled West Conference Room. It was only the second time such a ceremony was televised at the court.

Chief Justice John Roberts administered the 62-word oath, required of all federal judges. In a private ceremony just moments before, Kagan took a separate constitutional oath across the hall. Both are necessary for her lifetime job to become official.

Kagan beamed as she waved to relatives and guests when walking in for the public ceremony. Among those in the ornate room were her two brothers, as well as former colleagues from the Justice Department, where she served as solicitor general before being tapped by President Obama for the high court on May 10.

The Bible used in the two-minute ceremony is owned by Justice Stephen Breyer, who was not in attendance.

Roberts told the audience of about 70 that Kagan can “assume her duties as an associate justice and begin work right away.”

“Congratulations,” he said afterward to rousing cheers. “On behalf of my colleagues, welcome to the court. We look forward to serving with you in our common calling.”

Kagan made no statements and did not answer questions.

The newest justice can now start moving into her chambers and preparing for the upcoming fall term. The court is in the middle of a three-month recess, but Kagan must be available to handle any emergency appeals, such as a request for a stay of execution.

Kagan will soon formally hire four law clerks. She also will have two secretaries and a messenger to assist her.

Justices Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor were on hand for the swear-in ceremony. So, too, was John Paul Stevens, whom Kagan replaces on the bench.

Among the cases she will confront in her first term beginning in October will be disputes over noisy protests at military funerals, state bans on violent video games and the death penalty. High-profile appeals that may reach the court in the next couple of years include Arizona’s sweeping immigration reform law; California’s ban on same-sex marriage; and a challenge to health care mandates passed by Congress this spring.

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Article courtesy cnn.com