Ruth Bader Ginsburg is dead: Trump can shape American politics for decades

America mourns the legend of justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg († 87). The veteran liberal Supreme Court justice died Friday night (local time) of complications from cancer, the court announced.

The president of the United States, Donald Trump (74), praised the judge for her life’s work and put the American flag at half mast in front of the White House. However, he is likely to do everything in his power to have a Republican successor six weeks before the November 3 election.

Because: The justices of the Supreme Court of the United States are appointed by the Senate with a simple majority on the proposal of the President, here the Republicans currently have the majority in the chamber with 53 out of 100 seats. The nine magistrates of the Supreme Court are appointed for life. So far there has been a 5-4 majority for Republicans.

The court hears on issues that deeply divide the country: abortion, gun rights, equality and immigration. In a polarized Washington, where Republicans and Democrats are virtually unwilling to compromise, the nine justices increasingly have the final say on trend-setting laws. Decisions often shape the interpretation of laws in lower courts across the country.

Many experts believe that the Supreme Court is now more important than Congress. Ginsburg, who had been hospitalized several times that year, had served her position to the end, despite her fragile condition.

► In plain language: A judge nominated by Trump could consolidate the conservative majority on the Supreme Court and thus the president of the United States could shape political and social life for decades, even if he were voted.

Trump’s third judge?

During his tenure, Trump has already installed two conservative judges: Neil Gorsuch (53) and the controversial Brett Kavanaugh (55), whom several women had accused of abusing them (no incident could be independently confirmed, according to the “New York Times “- one Frau even admitted that she had come up with everything to prevent him from being a judge).

The president 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, 48.

In the immediate aftermath of the announcement of Ginsburg’s death, a dispute broke out between Republicans and Democrats over the succession – the nomination could now become a deciding factor in the election campaign!

► Democratic leaders are calling for the process to be postponed until after the presidential and parliamentary elections. The next president must determine the successor, he also summoned the Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden (77). “The voters must decide on the president, and the president must propose a judge to the Senate,” he said Friday. “That was the position the Republicans took in the Senate in 2016, when the elections were still almost ten months away. And that is the position that the Senate should take today ”.

► But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell rejected it. The House of Congress will vote on a candidate nominated by Trump, he said.

Four years ago, McConnell decided exactly the opposite in a similar situation: At the time, he refused to allow a moderate candidate for Democratic President Barack Obama (59) to vote before the 2016 election. He justified it by the fact that the The election, which took place 250 days later, was too early.

Nomination during electoral campaigns

But the outlook is good for Trump, even though he only has six weeks left and Obama failed four years ago, more than seven months before the election. The appointment of Brett Kavanaugh took just under three months.

► Mitch McConnell said he supported Trump’s nomination no matter who he nominated. In other words: Trump enjoys the backing of his own party.

► Already in Trump’s impeachment process it was shown that the ranks of Republicans are largely closed. And this publicly displayed support is crucial in the electoral campaign.

► The majority of Republicans in the Senate is stable; Four years ago, Democrats did not have a majority.

Trump’s opponents – Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and Cory Gardner of Colorado – are considered possible outliers among Republicans in the Senate. Explosive: Collins and Gardner are currently fighting for re-election. Murkowski and Collins recently stated that they did not want to appoint a new judge before the election.

Nomination more important than appointment

But majorities are likely to be of secondary importance. Because even if Trump’s nomination were to fail, the president of the United States could be victorious in the end by distracting himself from the crown debacle and making the election a generational decision.

Former Republican strategist Alex Contant said, “It’s hard to see how that doesn’t help Trump politically.” Because: “Biden wanted the election to be a referendum on Trump. Now there will be a referendum on the person who will nominate the next Supreme Court judge. “

Media: Even if Trump cannot push his preferred candidate in the near future, he could declare the upcoming election a pivotal course setting. True to the motto: Do ​​you want a conservative future or the socialism of the Democrats? So it could possibly only change voters who think in the short term.

According to one report, Ruth Bader Ginsburg wanted her vacant post as a judge at the highest court in the United States to be filled in the next presidential term. “My fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until there is a new president in office,” Ginsburg said a few days before her death. This was reported by the radio station NPR, citing her granddaughter Clara Spera.

Ginsburg was the oldest judge on the Supreme Court and an icon of Liberal American. In 1993 she was appointed by President Bill Clinton (74) in what is by far the most important court in the country. There she made a name for herself as an advocate for women’s rights. She was also instrumental in decision-making on gay rights issues and the abortion law. “Judge Ginsburg paved the way for so many women, including me,” former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton wrote on Twitter.

Top politicians and former presidents mourn Ginsburg

Hundreds of people gathered in front of the Supreme Court building on Friday night to commemorate the judicial legend.