Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan said Tuesday she continues to oppose the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy that bans openly gay and lesbian soldiers from military service.

In the first heated exchange of her confirmation hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee, Kagan sparred with Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama over her role as dean of Harvard Law School in barring military recruiters from the university's Office of Career Services.

Several Republican senators have challenged Kagan's judicial experience and her ability to put aside personal politics while Democrats praised her qualifications and welcomed her possible presence on a court they criticized for what they called
conservative activism.

Her confirmation is considered likely....