The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund is celebrating its 70th birthday this year, and it was looking forward to hearing from Solicitor General Elena Kagan as its featured speaker tomorrow to mark the occasion.
That was before Kagan's life got a little more complicated on Monday with her nomination by President Obama to be the next Supreme Court justice. So, Kagan's Wednesday will now focus on making initial visits with senators on Capitol Hill, and the fund announced that Kagan has canceled her lunchtime appearance.
Pinch-hitting for Kagan will be one of her predecessors as SG, Seth Waxman, partner and head of the appellate and Supreme Court practice at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr. "Mr. Waxman has devoted his career to serving as an advocate for equality and justice for everyone under the law,” said John Payton, president and director-counsel of the LDF in a statement. “With this celebration of the anniversary of our founding, we can safely say that LDF continues to be the nation’s premier civil rights legal organization, leading black Americans’ quest to secure and defend their constitutional rights and to expand opportunity for all.”
Payton, who was once a Wilmer colleague of Waxman's, also praised Kagan's appointment. “We congratulate Ms. Kagan on her nomination to the Supreme Court. We know she will serve the nation well in that esteemed capacity.”
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