US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Liberal Icon, Dies


Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died at age 87, the Supreme Court announced Friday, setting the stage for a contentious battle to name her successor in the run-up to the November presidential election.

KEY FACTS

Ginsburg died of complications from cancer.

She had been hospitalized several times over the past few years and announced earlier this month that she had been undergoing chemotherapy since May for a recurrence of cancer on her liver.

Ginsburg’s death will set off a high-stakes battle to replace her — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed Friday to give Trump’s nominee a vote on the Senate floor, which, if successful, would swing the court to a solid 6-3 conservative majority that could stand for many years.

Republicans hold 53 seats in the Senate and would only need a simple majority to confirm a nominee, but it’s not clear yet if the votes will be there —Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins have indicated that they wouldn’t support filling a vacancy before the next Congress is convened.

Days before she died, Ginsburg dictated a statement to her granddaughter: “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed,” according to NPR.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said that Ginsburg’s replacement should only be chosen after voters “pick the president.”

CRUCIAL QUOTE

“Our nation has lost a jurist of historic stature,” Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said in a statement. “We at the Supreme Court have lost a cherished colleague. Today we mourn, but with confidence that future generations will remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as we knew her—a tireless and resolute champion of justice.”

KEY BACKGROUND

Ginsburg had a long career as a trailblazer for women’s rights. Before she was appointed to the court in 1993 by Bill Clinton, Ginsburg cofounded the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project in 1972. She was the second female Supreme Court Justice after Sandra Day O’Connor. Through the years, Ginsburg has become a liberal icon, especially among young feminists, who dubbed her the “Notorious RBG.”

WHAT’S NEXT

It’s unclear who is seriously in the running to be President Donald Trump’s nominee, but the president added several controversial picks to a list of potential names last week, including Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), who immediately tweeted, “It’s time for Roe v. Wade to go” after the announcement.

 

Forbes

News

Bill ClintonDonald TrumpJoe BidenJohn G. Roberts Jr.obamaRuth Bader Ginsburg

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *