New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern reacts to Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death

Jacinda Ardern has reacted to the death of feminist icon and United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

In a Facebook post, she said, “Today is New Zealand Women’s Suffrage Day. Sadly, it is also the day that US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away.”

“Those who fought for women’s right to vote knew there were other challenges ahead in the battle for equality. People like Ruth Bader Ginsburg continued that fight. She was tireless, determined, and made an immeasurable difference in the lives of so many. .RIP to the notorious RBG “.

Hilary Clinton and Billie Jean King were among other politicians and celebrities who took to Twitter to express their condolences following Ginsburg’s death.

The United States Supreme Court announced his death, saying the cause was complications from cancer.

Ginsburg, the second judge on the court, died at her home in Washington.

In July, he announced that he was undergoing chemotherapy treatment for liver injuries, the latest of several battles with cancer.

Ginsburg spent his last years on the bench as the undisputed leader of the liberal wing of the court and became something of a rock star to his fans.

The young women seemed to especially embrace the Jewish court grandmother, affectionately calling her the Notorious RBG, for her advocacy for the rights of women and minorities, and the strength and resilience she displayed in the face of personal loss and health crises. .

Those health problems included five episodes of cancer beginning in 1999, falls that resulted in broken ribs, insertion of a stent to clear a blocked artery, and a variety of other hospitalizations after he turned 75.

He resisted calls from liberals to step down during Barack Obama’s presidency at a time when Democrats were in the Senate and a replacement with similar views could have been confirmed.

Instead, President Donald Trump will almost certainly try to push Ginsburg’s successor through the Republican-controlled Senate, and move the conservative court even further to the right.

Ginsburg was a mother of two, an opera lover, and an intellectual who saw arguments behind oversized glasses for many years, though she abandoned them for more modern frames in her later years. In discussion sessions in the ornate courtroom, she was known for digging deep into case records and being rigorous about following the rules.

She argued six key cases in court in the 1970s when she was an architect of the women’s rights movement. She won five.

His 1993 appointment by President Bill Clinton was the first by a Democrat in 26 years. He initially found a comfortable ideological home somewhere to the left of center in a conservative court dominated by Republican candidates. His liberal voice grew louder the longer he served.

“Ruth Bader Ginsburg does not need a seat on the Supreme Court to earn a place in the history books of America,” Clinton said at the time of her appointment. “She already has.”

– With AP