Kagan sworn in as Supreme Court justice

Elena Kagan was sworn in as the 112th justice on the Supreme Court on Saturday.

In a private ceremony at the Supreme Court, the former solicitor general became the fourth female justice in history and the third woman serving in the current court’s makeup.

Kagan followed tenures at Princeton, Oxford and Harvard law schools to become the first female dean of Harvard’s law school program.

The confirmation came after a contentious battle in the Senate, which is charged with approving justices. Democrats defended her against charges of extremism, while many Republicans decried her lack of judicial experience. The National Rifle Association opposed her nomination.

Kagan was sworn in after being confirmed by a 13-6 vote on the Senate Judiciary Committee and a 63-37 vote on the Senate floor on Thursday.

Chief Justice John Roberts administered Saturday’s oath, which allows Kagan to immediately begin reviewing cases and emergency appeals.

Kagan, who has never served on the bench, had been President Obama’s solitcitor general — arguing several cases before the Supreme Court — before the nomination last year.

In a rare Friday reception at the White House, Obama feted the newly confirmed Kagan.

“I think we can agree that Justice Elena Kagan has a pretty nice ring to it,” Obama said of his second successful appointment to the court.

Kagan, on Friday, thanked Obama for trusting her enough to nominate her to the Supreme Court, and pledged to fulfill an “obligation to uphold the rights and liberties afforded by our remarkable Constitution” and “to provide what the inscription on the Supreme Court building promises: equal justice under law.”

Roberts administered two oaths on Saturday. One recited was the oath as described by the Constitution during a private ceremony in a conference room at the court with only her family present; the other was in the presence of reporters.

Another ceremony is coming: Roberts plans to install Kagan again at the start of the court’s fall work schedule Oct. 1.