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The oldest judge on the United States’ highest court, the Supreme Court, died Friday at the age of 87 of complications from cancer, the Washington court announced. She died with her family.
The Supreme Court has a formative role for society and politics in the United States. The court hears highly controversial issues such as abortion, gun law, equality, and immigration. It is not uncommon for the nine judges to have the last word in disputes over laws and orders that set the course. The decisions made are often of national importance and shape the interpretation of laws in lower courts for years, sometimes decades.
Ginsburg held her position in the highly political court to the end and was considered the most prominent representative of the liberal wing. That year she had received several short-term hospital treatments for her pancreatic cancer.
If the President of the United States, Donald Trump, had the opportunity to appoint a Supreme Court Justice for the third time in his term, he could influence the extremely politically important court for years. The Republican has already been determined to try to occupy the post of judge in the last months of his current term. “I would. Absolutely. Definitely,” Trump said in a radio interview last month.
In contrast, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted that the appointment of a new Supreme Court justice would be suspended until a new U.S. president takes office. “The American people must have a voice in choosing their next Supreme Court justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president,” Schumer said.
Most famous judge
Ginsburg was nominated for the Supreme Court in 1993 by then-Democratic President Bill Clinton, possibly becoming the most famous judge. The then 60-year-old was the second woman on the court. Even as a student, she was one of the few women in a male domain.
Ginsburg made a name for herself with her sharp argumentation. She was also known as a pioneer for civil and women’s rights. Her life and work is the subject of several movies and books. Many liberals celebrate her as an icon. Her face can be found in souvenirs and as graffiti on the facades of houses.
Ginsburg had to undergo radiation therapy in August 2019 due to a malignant tumor in the pancreas. The year before, he had undergone lung surgery after doctors found two malignant lumps. After several hospital stays, he announced in July 2020 that he had cancer again and was receiving chemotherapy. He did not draw consequences for his position on the Supreme Court: “I have often said that I will remain a member of the court as long as I can do the job with all my strength,” he said when the illness was announced.
Appointing a judge to the Supreme Court is a big political problem. With the appointment, the president can influence the line of the supreme court with his nine positions of judge for many years, because the judges are chosen for life. The Supreme Court is already overweight conservative. With Ginsburg’s death, this could possibly be consolidated for a long time.
Currently five judges are considered conservative; after Ginsburg’s death, three will remain in the liberal bloc. Trump appointed Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh during his tenure. Kavanaugh’s appeal was highly controversial in the 1980s on charges of sexual assault.
Dispute for succession
President Donald Trump and other politicians from both parties paid tribute to Ginsburg. “He led an incredible life,” Trump said. “She was an amazing woman.” Immediately after the announcement of her death, an argument broke out between Republicans and Democrats about a successor. Since this is nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, Republicans could cement the conservative orientation of the Constitutional Court for decades.
A specific proposal for the successor was not initially known. Trump published a list of 20 potential candidates a few days ago. Many experts expect him to name a woman, possibly conservative federal appeals judge Amy Coney Barrett.
The appointment of constitutional judges is a highly political process in the United States. The nine life judges are openly assigned to political wings. Until Ginsburg’s death, five of them were considered conservatives. Two of them were nominated by Trump: Neil Gorsuch in 2017 and Brett Kavanaugh in 2018. One candidate must be approved by the Senate, where Republicans have a narrow majority. If they manage to get past a relatively young candidate again – Gorsuch is 53 today, Kavanaugh 55 – that could lead to a solid six to three-vote conservative majority on the Supreme Court for decades to come.
Consequently, top Democrats on Friday called for the nomination process to be postponed until after the presidential and congressional elections in early November. According to polls, he is hopeful of taking over the White House and Senate. The next president must determine the successor, demanded Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. Broadcaster NRP reported that Ginsburg herself had issued a statement to her great-granddaughter before her death, according to which she supported the appointment of her successor by the next president. This is your “deepest wish”.
“Certainly, the voters must choose the president, and the president must propose the judge to the Senate,” Biden said of the order of decisions to be made. That is the position that the Senate must take.
Similarly, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said, “The American people must have a voice in choosing their next Supreme Court justice, so this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president,” he tweeted. he.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell rejected it. The House of Congress will vote on a candidate nominated by Trump, he said. Four years ago, in a similar situation, McConnell made the exact opposite decision: At the time, he refused to allow a moderate candidate for Democratic President Barack Obama to vote before the 2016 election. Some Democrats have proposed adding justices to the Court. Supreme if the elections win in November to break the conservative majority.
