Associate JusticeSince 2010
Elena Kagan
The liberal wing’s tactician and its clearest writer — a former Solicitor General who picks her battles, courts the middle, and delivers the wing’s most cutting statutory dissents.
Nominated ObamaConfirmed 63–37 · Aug 5, 2010Approach Pragmatism · Close statutory reading
83%
In the majority
of 40 decided cases, this term
5
Majority opinions
authored this term
7
Dissents
this term
77%
In the majority
across 200 decisions, OT2021–OT2025
’10
On the bench since
16 years
This term · voting record
How Kagan has voted.
CaseAligned withRoleSide
Trump v. Slaughter
Executive power
3 dissenters
Dissent
DISSENT
Watson v. RNC
Elections
5–4 majority
Joined
MAJORITY
Louisiana v. Callais
Elections
3 dissenters
Dissent
DISSENT
Learning Resources v. Trump
Executive power
7–2 majority
Joined
MAJORITY
United States v. Hemani
2nd Amendment
3 dissenters
Dissent
DISSENT
Trump v. Barbara
Executive power
7–2 strike (est.)
Predicted
MAJORITY
Trump v. Cook
Executive power
5–4 Cook stays (est.)
Predicted
DISSENT
West Virginia v. B.P.J.
Civil rights
6–3 uphold (est.)
Predicted
DISSENT
NRSC v. FEC
1st Amendment
6–3 strike (est.)
Predicted
DISSENT
Mullin v. Al Otro Lado
Immigration
6–3 for gov’t (est.)
Predicted
DISSENT
PENDING CASES SHOW PREDICTED VOTES (EST. FROM ARGUMENT + IDEAL POINT) · DECIDED CASES SHOW THE RECORDED VOTE.
Majority opinions · OT2021–OT2025
The opinions Kagan wrote for the Court.
8–1
OT2025
Hunter v. United States
Decided Jun 18, 2026
9–0
OT2025
Abouammo v. United States
Decided Jun 11, 2026
9–0
OT2025
Olivier v. City of Brandon, Mississippi
Decided Mar 20, 2026
9–0
OT2025
The GEO Group, Inc. v. Menocal
Decided Feb 25, 2026
9–0
OT2025
Case v. Montana
Decided Jan 14, 2026
9–0
OT2024
Wisconsin Bell, Inc. cv. United States, ex rel. Heath
Decided Feb 21, 2025
9–0
OT2024
Royal Canin U.S.A. v. Wullschleger
Decided Jan 15, 2025
9–0
OT2023
Moody v. NetChoice, LLC
Decided Jul 01, 2024
SHOWING THE 8 MOST RECENT OF 23 MAJORITY OPINIONS · SOURCE: OYEZ
Public favorability
A partisan split — and lots of “don’t know.”
Republicans22 / 39
Independents27 / 22
Democrats49 / 11
44% OF ALL ADULTS HAVE NO OPINION · YOUGOV / THE ECONOMIST, MAY 2026 →
All readings
FAV / UNFAV / NET · Marquette polls all adults with a “haven’t heard enough” option; YouGov polls adult citizens — levels aren’t comparable across houses, the net trend is.
Favorability over time
Holding up better than the Court.
Net favorability over time
Sep 2019May 2026
Born
Apr 28, 1960 · New York, New York
Education
Harvard Law
Seat
Associate Justice (succeeded John Paul Stevens)
Sworn in
Aug 7, 2010
Clerked for
Judge Abner Mikva & Justice Thurgood Marshall
Prior role
U.S. Solicitor General (2009–2010)
Related coverage
SCOTUSblog · 2h
The four opinions still outstanding as the term hits its final day.
NYT · 5h
Inside the birthright-citizenship argument: where each justice tipped their hand.
Reuters · 1d
Slaughter ruling hands the President at-will control of independent agencies.
AP · 1d
After Callais, three Southern states move to redraw congressional maps.
Associate Justice · since 2010
Elena Kagan
The liberal wing’s tactician and its clearest writer — a former Solicitor General who picks her battles, courts the middle, and delivers the wing’s most cutting statutory dissents.
Liberalideal pt -1.6
Net favorability
+8
32% fav · 24% unfav
83%
In majority
5
Maj. opinions
7
Dissents
This term · voting record
Trump v. Slaughter
DISSENT · 3 dissenters
Watson v. RNC
JOINED · 5–4 majority
Louisiana v. Callais
DISSENT · 3 dissenters
Learning Resources v. Trump
JOINED · 7–2 majority
United States v. Hemani
DISSENT · 3 dissenters
Trump v. Barbara
PREDICTED · 7–2 strike (est.)
Trump v. Cook
PREDICTED · 5–4 Cook stays (est.)
West Virginia v. B.P.J.
PREDICTED · 6–3 uphold (est.)
NRSC v. FEC
PREDICTED · 6–3 strike (est.)
Mullin v. Al Otro Lado
PREDICTED · 6–3 for gov’t (est.)
Votes with
Sotomayor
93%
Jackson
88%
Roberts
77%
Kavanaugh
76%
Barrett
74%
Gorsuch
68%
Thomas
61%
Alito
60%
Majority opinions · OT2021–OT2025
8–1Hunter v. United StatesOT2025
9–0Abouammo v. United StatesOT2025
9–0Olivier v. City of Brandon, MississippiOT2025
9–0The GEO Group, Inc. v. MenocalOT2025
9–0Case v. MontanaOT2025
9–0Wisconsin Bell, Inc. cv. United States, ex rel. HeathOT2024
Favorability, by party
Republicans22 / 39
Independents27 / 22
Democrats49 / 11
44% OF ALL ADULTS HAVE NO OPINION · YOUGOV / THE ECONOMIST, MAY 2026
What the money says
SNAPSHOT JUL 1, 2026 · ¢ = PRICE OF YES
Related coverage
SCOTUSblog · 2h
The four opinions still outstanding as the term hits its final day.
NYT · 5h
Inside the birthright-citizenship argument: where each justice tipped their hand.
Reuters · 1d
Slaughter ruling hands the President at-will control of independent agencies.
AP · 1d
After Callais, three Southern states move to redraw congressional maps.