The dean of the Supreme Court of the United States, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, died Friday, September 18, at the age of 87, which should pave the way for an intense political battle within two months of the presidential election. This progressive judge, who has become a true icon on the left, died of pancreatic cancer, surrounded by her family, the highest court of the United States announced in a statement.
Fragile for a few years, this champion of the cause of women, minorities or the environment had been hospitalized twice this summer and her health was closely monitored by the Democrats, who fear that the president, Donald Trump, will not hastens to name his successor.
Abortion, minority rights, the carrying of arms, the death penalty… the Supreme Court is the arbiter of all major social issues in the United States. Today, the five conservative judges – out of nine – are not united, and it is common for one of them to vote with his progressive colleagues. By appointing a successor before the November 3 election, Donald Trump could anchor the institution even further to the right.
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Concern in the opposition
The concern was quickly expressed in the opposition. Just moments after the announcement of his death, Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer greeted a “Giant of American history” and asked not to rush the choice of his successor. Picking up the words spoken by Kentucky elected official Mitch McConnell in 2016, he added on Twitter :
“The American people must have their say in the selection of the next Supreme Court judge. His post should not be assigned until we have a new president. “
The Democratic candidate, Joe Biden, paid tribute to the most famous magistrate in the United States. “Ruth Bader Ginsburg fought for all of us, and she was very much loved”, he stressed, also calling on him not to rush to replace her. “The voters must choose the president, and the president must propose a judge to the Senate”, he added.
According to NPR radio, she herself had confided her last wishes to her granddaughter, Clara Spera. “My dearest wish is not to be replaced until a new president has taken the oath”, she would have dictated to him a few days before his death.
Trump has already released a list of conservative judges
The President of the United States did not learn of the news of the death of the Supreme Court judge until the end of his campaign rally in Minnesota, a few minutes before boarding the presidential plane.
“She just died?” I did not know. She has led an exceptional life. “
Donald Trump then greeted in a statement a “Brilliant mind” including decisions, especially on women’s rights, “Have excited all Americans”. “Fighting to the end”, this progressive magistrate, whom he called “Colossus of law”, “Proved that you can disagree without being disagreeable”.
Anxious to galvanize the voters of the religious right, the Republican president has already published a list of conservative judges, for the most part opposed to abortion and favorable to the carrying of weapons, in which he will draw to choose the next “sage” of the Supreme Court.
The Republican Senate leader has said he will hold a vote in the upper house of Congress if Donald Trump names a successor to the dean of the Supreme Court ahead of the November 3 election.
“We pledged to work with President Trump and support his agenda, including his remarkable choices for federal judgeshipsMitch McConnell said in a statement. Once again, we will keep our promise. President Trump’s candidate will be entitled to a vote in the United States Senate. “
Congressional and White House flags at half mast
Friday evening, a few hundred people spontaneously gathered in front of the columns of the Supreme Court to pay homage to him. The flags of Congress and the White House were half-masted in his honor.
Despite his positioning on the left, Republicans and Democrats immediately paid tribute to him. “Every woman, every girl, every family in America has benefited from her dazzling intelligence”, said Congressional Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi. “We lost a giant in the country’s history”, added the youngest of the House and representative of the left wing of the party, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “Justice Ginsburg paved the way for so many women, including me. There will never be anyone like her. Thank you RBG », at tweeted former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
It was “A champion of the law” for the head of the American diplomacy, Mike Pompeo, a lawyer “Brilliant”, “Admired” and “Influential”, according to Justice Minister Bill Barr. She “Was a pioneer, passionate about her causes, she served the Supreme Court with honor and distinction”, at increased Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close friend of the president, who even said ” sad “ of his death.
In France, Emmanuel Macron paid tribute on Saturday to a “An exceptional woman”, whose heritage “Will continue to inspire us”.
A small dissonant voice, Republican Senator Ted Cruz, who is on President Trump’s list of potential Supreme Court candidates, did not wait to ask for her to be replaced. He claimed on Twitter that the president announce his successor next week and that the Senate confirm it before the election. “This nomination, that’s why Donald Trump was elected”, he said.
