国际英语新闻：U.S. justice candidate Kagan tries to reassure Congress of her impartiality, modesty

WASHINGTON, June 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Senate on Monday kicked off confirmation hearings on Elena Kagan's nomination to the Supreme Court, and the current Solicitor General promised to consider every case "impartially, modestly, with commitment to principle, and in accordance with law."

"What the Supreme Court does is to safeguard the rule of law, through a commitment to even-handedness, principle, and restraint, " the 50-year-old former Harvard Law School dean said during the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing which was nationally televised.

"Everyone who comes before the Court -- regardless of wealth or power or station -- receives the same process and the same protections. What this commands of judges is even-handedness and impartiality. What it promises is nothing less than a fair shake for every American," she said.

Kagan, who was described by critics as activist holding too liberal views and would pursue a radical agenda on the high court, tried to defend her modesty and restraint usually seen as key merit for a qualified Supreme Court justice.

"The Supreme Court is a wondrous institution. But the time I spent in the other branches of government remind me that it must also be a modest one -- properly deferential to the decisions of the American people and their elected representatives," she testified.

"The Supreme Court, of course, has the responsibility of ensuring that our government never oversteps its proper bounds or violates the rights of individuals. But the Court must also recognize the limits on itself and respect the choices made by the American people."

Kagan is expected to be questioned on a wide range of hot- button issues, including gun rights, same-sex marriage and the procedure opponents call partial-birth abortion, as well as the Supreme Court's ruling earlier this year on campaign finance, the first case Kagan chose to argue before the Supreme Court as Obama' s solicitor general.

Kagan formerly taught law at Harvard and University of Chicago Law School, where Obama also taught. She became an Associate White House legal counsel under former president Bill Clinton. She was the favored pick for Obama rumored in the media, and went through a Senate confirmation process last year to become the first female solicitor general, winning 61 votes.

If Kagan was confirmed by the Senate, the Supreme Court would have three female justices. The other two are Ruth Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor, who was also nominated by Obama.

"If confirmed ... I will do my best to consider every case impartially, modestly, with commitment to principle, and in accordance with law," said Kagan.

Despite some Senate Republicans criticized Kagan over lack of experience and liberalism and did not rule out the possibility of filibustering her nomination, most analysts believe that the Senate will finally give Kagan a green light to take the seat of retiring Justice John Paul Stevens on the high court.