The Senate opened debate today on the Supreme Court nomination of Elena Kagan, with Judiciary ranking member Jeff Sessions leading the GOP opposition.

Kagan is unfit to sit on the high court, Sessions argued, because her approach to judging is "inconsistent with the classic American view of a judge, one who shows restraint, follows the law, adjudicates matters before the court and who is objective and fair."

He also took aim at her opposition to "don't ask, don't tell" and how it affected her actions as dean of Harvard Law School.

Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl, another senior GOP Judiciary member opposing her nomination, said he was dismayed by what he described as Kagan's efforts during her confirmation hearing to redefine her position on military recruiting on the Harvard Law School campus.

But Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., defended Kagan's actions as dean, saying they had been "inaccurately depicted." She noted that Kagan never barred military recruiters from campus, as Sessions and other Republicans have claimed.

Rather, for one semester, Kagan required military recruiters to reach students through a campus military association rather than working out of the school's career office after a law barring federal funding to colleges that prohibit military recruiting on campus was found to be unconstitutional.

"At all times, the military had access to students," Feinstein said. "What is most striking... is that although the Judiciary [Committee] has heard from service members on both sides of this issue, every report we have received from a veteran or service member who actually attended Harvard at the time has been in strong support of Kagan's nomination to the court."

Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy also argued in support of Kagan, saying she holds "mainstream views" and will not substitute her own opinions "to override congressional law."

With Kagan's confirmation virtually assured, a final vote is expected by Thursday.