Kagan argues Congress can regulate aspects of Supreme Court

Justice Elena Kagan said during a public appearance Thursday that Congress can regulate aspects of the Supreme Court, a comment that comes as Democrats push a bill that would mandate a binding code of ethics for the justices.

Kagan was asked her thoughts on the issue during an appearance at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judicial Conference, less than a week after Justice Samuel Alito said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal’s opinion section that Congress lacked the authority to regulate the high court.

A member of the court’s liberal wing, Kagan declined to respond directly to her conservative colleague, indicating she had read the interview but was unsure exactly what question he was responding to.