Obama nominates Elena Kagan for the Supreme Court

President Barack Obama has nominated Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court, saying she will demonstrate independence, integrity and passion for the law.

If confirmed by the Senate, Elena Kagan will become the 3rd woman on the high court. Obama introduced her Monday in the White House's East Room. He called her "my friend" and one of the nation's foremost legal minds.

Elena Kagan would be the 1st justice with no experience as a judge since William H. Rehnquist and Lewis F. Powell Jr. joined the court in 1972.

She has clerked for Thurgood Marshall, worked for Bill Clinton and was the 1st female dean of Harvard Law School. She is also the 1st woman to serve as the top Supreme Court lawyer for any administration.

When she was confirmed as solicitor general in 2009, only 7 Republicans backed her.

U.S. Senator Jon Kyl, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, made the following statement about the nomination: "As I made clear when I supported her confirmation as Solicitor General, a temporary political appointment is far different than a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court."

Migrant border deaths rose to 417 in 2009

WASHINGTON – The number of people who died trying to illegally cross the United States.-Mexico border last year rose to 417.

That statistic from the Border Patrol is an increase from 390 in 2008 and the very first increase in the deaths in 4 years. The number rose despite a continued drop in apprehensions at the border.

Apprehensions totaled 538,000 last year, down from 705,022 the previous year.

The National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) reported the U.S. Border Patrol statistics on Thursday. NFAP supports providing more visas for people to come legally to the U.S.

President Barack Obama wants work on immigration reform this year

United States President Barack Obama says he wants to begin work this year on legislation overhauling the nation's immigration system and Obama's comments Wednesday at a Cinco de Mayo celebration at the White House reaffirmed his long-held support for immigration reform.

Obama went a step further than he has in the past by calling for the work to begin this year. Barack Obama said it would be difficult to achieve and would require bipartisan support -- something that's lacking in the Senate right now.

But Barack Obama said it was the only way to deal with the nation's immigration problems. He again denounced the law passed in Arizona that allows police to require people to prove they are in this country legally.

AP source: Barack Obama talking to possible court picks

WASHINGTON — A higher administration official says President Barack Obama has begun having conversations with potential Supreme Court nominees.

The official said Obama’s discussion with candidates for the high court have not been formal interviews. Still, they signal an uptick in Obama's consideration for his next contender. A verdict is expected over the next few weeks.

Barack Obama is deciding on a nominee to succeed Justice John Paul Stevens, who is retiring this summer after 35 years on the court.

The official spoke to The Associated Press (AP) on condition of anonymity to protect the privacy of Obama's deliberations.

Barack Obama meets at the White House on Wednesday with Senate leaders of both parties to discuss the upcoming court vacancy.