Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Passes Away At 87
Official Portrait 2016
Born March 15th, 1933, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has passed away in her Washington home on September 18th, 2020. At 87 years old, a long battle of metastatic pancreas cancer took her life. It was not the first cancer that Ginsburg had battled with.
She was nominated to the court in 1993 by President Bill Clinton. Indeed, Ginsburg has served this nation for 27 years. Additionally, she is the second woman to ever sit on the Supreme Court, preceded by Sandra O’Conner.
Her Legacy
A champion for gender equality, equity, and civil rights, she will be missed. Known as “The Notorious RBG,” a play on famous west-coast rapper “The Notorious B.I.G” name, she was respected especially among communities of color and young lawyers.
In the 1970s, Ginsburg fought hard as a champion for women’s rights in law. Jefferey Toobin of CNN remarked that her contributions were pinnacle to American history and law reform.
“Her contributions to the rights of women under the Constitution were epic. She argued the cases that created the modern American constitution as it related to women. [She was] a powerful important voice to liberal values on the court.”
For a time she was the only female Supreme Justice. Ginsburg described those times as the hardest and darkest for her to endure. She didn’t like the public image, her and her small frame being compared to her eight male colleagues. However, fighting for female rights was not new to her. When Ginsburg attended Harvard, there wasn’t a single woman on the faculty. Although she was even interrogated for taking the spot of a man in the school, Ginsburg remained steadfast. Regardless, her knowledge and perseverance earned her a seat on the Supreme Court.
Medical Complications
Unfortunately in her late life, Ginsburg suffered from many medical complications. In 1999, the Supreme Justice beat colon cancer. Ten years later, she also beat pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, in 2010 two tumors were found in her lungs. Also, Ginsburg had suffered from broken ribs during a recent fall.
Despite all of these medical obstacles, Ginsburg remained tough. Even though she had a small and fragile frame, she worked out with a trainer.
This is the statement issued from the court this afternoon:
Photo Credit: Vanity Fair
“Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died this evening surrounded by her family at her home in Washington, D.C., due to complications of metastatic pancreas cancer. She was 87 years old. Justice Ginsburg was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Clinton in 1993. She was the second woman appointed to the Court and served more than 27 years. She is survived by her two children: Jane Carol Ginsburg (George Spera) and James Steven Ginsburg (Patrice Michaels), four grandchildren: Paul Spera (Francesca Toich), Clara Spera (Rory Boyd), Miranda Ginsburg, Abigail Ginsburg, two step-grandchildren: Harjinder Bedi, Satinder Bedi, and one great- grandchild: Lucrezia Spera. Her husband, Martin David Ginsburg, died in 2010.”
It is undoubtedly true that her death during this time is pivotal to our nation’s political climate. The current administration will likely rush to fill the Supreme Court vacancy before January to secure the Republican majority.
The Elk Grove Tribune offers our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
