Today, the Orthodox Union wrote to members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee with regard to the nomination of Ms. Elena Kagan to become an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. The Judiciary Committee will hold confirmation hearings for Ms. Kagan next week.

Noting its policy to neither endorse nor oppose the ultimate confirmation of a Supreme Court nominee, the OU’s letter conveys to the Senators the organization’s views on Ms. Kagan’s record on an area of constitutional law critical to the welfare and liberties of the Orthodox Jewish community in the United States – the jurisprudence of religion and state.

The OU letter characterizes Ms. Kagan’s record in this area “encouraging.” The OU reached this view based on a review of Ms. Kagan’s record.

The letter notes Ms. Kagan’s repudiation of “an extreme, dogmatic and outdated view” of the Establishment Clause in the course of her Solicitor General confirmation hearings last year.

The letter also finds encouragement with regard to Ms. Kagan’s views on Free Exercise Clause issues based on her work in the Clinton Administration on workplace religious freedom guidelines, religious liberty legislation and more.

The full letter from the Orthodox Union to the Senate Judiciary Committee can be found here.