The Senate Judiciary Committee held its third day of hearings on the appointment of Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court seat vacated by the retirement of Justice John Paul Stevens. Senators were allotted 30 minutes each in the second day of the first round of questioning. Part 1 contained questions by Senators Whitehouse, Klobuchar, Kaufman, and Franken.

Senator Whitehouse addressed the role of the judge, judicial precedent, the ideologically-divided nature of the current Court, and findings of fact. Senator Klobuchar's questions covered judicial philosophy and the experiences Solicitor General Kagan would bring to the Court. Senator Kaufman asked about antitrust laws, results-oriented judging, punitive liabilities, and Justice Thurgood Marshall. Senator Franken focused on arbibration, and campaign finance and environmental law.