Washington (CNN) -- Justice Elena Kagan made the most of her first day on the Supreme Court bench before reluctantly vanishing behind the burgundy curtains -- leaving behind her bench-mates.
The high court opened its new term Monday hearing oral arguments in two relatively low-profile appeals, but Kagan sat out the second case. It is one of 25 petitions from which the 50-year-old justice has so far recused herself.
Because of her recent service as the Obama administration's solicitor general, Kagan has decided to avoid any conflict of interest by withdrawing from cases the Obama administration had been involved in briefing. This means she will not sit on the bench during arguments or vote on the outcome of cases. The solicitor general works in the Justice Department as the government's chief advocate before the high court.
The 112th justice was serious and engaged in her first oral argument, despite having no past judicial experience. She was among the busiest of justices at the one-hour give-and-take between the court and the three lawyers appearing before them. Kagan asked eight questions of both sides, but was polite and non-confrontational in her approach.
A bankruptcy case involved whether a debtor can deduct automobile "ownership costs" from his payment plan, when he owned the vehicle free and clear -- meaning he owed nothing to creditors from a loan or lease that would normally be deductible.
CNN
