AP: Kagan asks questions at first high court argument

[usregimechange]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- This time Elena Kagan got to ask the questions. With her confirmation hearings for the Supreme Court now a part of history, the court's newest justice - and third woman - took a direct role for the first time in a case before the court.

Less than 20 minutes into the court's new term Monday, Kagan asked her first questions during a Supreme Court argument. In this case, the issue centered on a debtor's plan to get out of bankruptcy.

When that argument ended, Kagan departed because she is not taking part in the other case that was argued Monday. It is one of two dozen cases that Kagan is out of because of her work at the Justice Department before joining the high court in August.

In the first hour, though, she was among eight justices who asked questions. The ninth, Justice Clarence Thomas hasn't asked a question in more than four years.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SUPREME_COURT_KAGAN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Motown_Johnny]

1. Justice Thomas always asks the same question... Anthony, how should I vote?

he just does it in chambers

[beyurslf]

2. Will he retire when Scalia dies? How else could he vote?

[Bitwit1234]

3. Someone might answer we don't like photo copiers. So

he just keeps his mouth shut.