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| Ruth Bader Ginsburg: US Supreme Court judge dies of cancer, aged 87 | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, an iconic champion of women's rights, has died of cancer at the age of 87, the court has said. | US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, an iconic champion of women's rights, has died of cancer at the age of 87, the court has said. |
| Ginsburg died on Friday of metastatic pancreatic cancer at her home in Washington, DC, surrounded by her family, the statement said. | Ginsburg died on Friday of metastatic pancreatic cancer at her home in Washington, DC, surrounded by her family, the statement said. |
| Earlier this year, Ginsburg said she was undergoing chemotherapy for a recurrence of cancer. | Earlier this year, Ginsburg said she was undergoing chemotherapy for a recurrence of cancer. |
| She was a prominent feminist who became a figurehead for liberals in the US. | She was a prominent feminist who became a figurehead for liberals in the US. |
| Ginsburg was the oldest sitting justice on the Supreme Court, having served 27 years on the nation's highest court. | Ginsburg was the oldest sitting justice on the Supreme Court, having served 27 years on the nation's highest court. |
| As one of four liberal justices on the court, her health was watched closely. Ginsberg's death raises the prospect of US President Donald Trump trying to expand its slender conservative majority. | |
| "Our Nation has lost a jurist of historic stature," Chief Justice John Roberts said in a statement on Friday. "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." | "Our Nation has lost a jurist of historic stature," Chief Justice John Roberts said in a statement on Friday. "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." |
| Ginsberg had suffered from five bouts of cancer, with the most recent recurrence in early 2020. She had received hospital treatment a number of times in recent years, but returned swiftly to work on each occasion. | |
| In a statement in July, the judge said her treatment for cancer had yielded "positive results", insisting she would not retire from her role. | |
| "I have often said I would remain a member of the Court as long as I can do the job full steam," she said. "I remain fully able to do that." | |
| Why was Ginsburg important? | |
| US Supreme Court justices serve for life or until they choose to retire, and supporters had expressed concern that a more conservative justice could succeed Ginsburg. | US Supreme Court justices serve for life or until they choose to retire, and supporters had expressed concern that a more conservative justice could succeed Ginsburg. |
| The highest court in the US is often the final word on highly contentious laws, disputes between states and the federal government, and final appeals to stay executions. | |
| In recent years, the court has expanded gay marriage to all 50 states, allowed for President Trump's travel ban to be put in place and delayed a US plan to cut carbon emissions while appeals went forward. | |
| Ginsberg's death will spark a political battle over who will succeed her, spurring debate about the future of the Supreme Court ahead of November's presidential election. | Ginsberg's death will spark a political battle over who will succeed her, spurring debate about the future of the Supreme Court ahead of November's presidential election. |
| US President Donald Trump has appointed two judges since taking office, and the current court is seen to have a 5-4 conservative majority in most cases. | US President Donald Trump has appointed two judges since taking office, and the current court is seen to have a 5-4 conservative majority in most cases. |