By The Editors

Solicitor General Elena Kagan, President Obama’s second nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court, moved a step closer to confirmation Tuesday when the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to send her nomination to the full Senate.

The vote of 13 to 6 included only one Republican, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, raising the prospect – given that this is an election year — that she will receive little Republican support in the full Senate as well.

Her confirmation is all but formally assured, however, because of the Democratic dominance in Congress’ Upper Chamber. That vote is expected to occur in August so that Kagan can take her seat when the Court convenes in October.

The NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund in June released a 31-page report supporting Kagan’s nomination (PDF). The report did urge the Senate to fully explore her views on equal opportunity and racial justice, but stated that its “review of her record leads us to conclude that she has the professional credentials, respect for the institutional roles of all three branches of federal government, intellect and independence of mind, ability to build consensus, and commitment to justice required of one who would serve in this critical role.”