PORTLAND, Maine — Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe is joining her Republican colleague Susan Collins in announcing that she would vote to confirm Elena Kagan as a Supreme Court justice.
Snowe said Wednesday that Kagan met her standard for Supreme Court nominees with “strong intellect, respect for the rule of law, and understanding of the important but limited role of the Supreme Court.”
The support of Snowe and Collins for Kagan represents a break with their party to back President Barack Obama’s nominee to succeed retired Justice John Paul Stevens.
Most Republicans plan to vote against Kagan, arguing that she would put her politics ahead of the law and be a rubber stamp for Obama’s agenda. She’s also drawn fire from anti-abortion and pro-gun rights groups.