US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Dies at 87
2020-09-20
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died Friday night at her home in Washington, D.C.
2She was 87.
3Her death is likely to set up a political battle over when to nominate a successor.
4Ginsburg died of problems connected to metastatic pancreatic cancer, the court said.
5Ginsburg announced in July that she was getting chemotherapy treatments for masses on her liver, the latest of her several battles with cancer.
6Ginsburg was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1933.
7Her dream, she had said, was to be an opera singer.
8She finished at the top of her Columbia University law school class in 1959 but no law firm would hire her.
9She had, in her words from 2007, "three strikes against her" - for being Jewish, female and a mother.
10She went to work with the American Civil Liberties Union in the 1970s.
11Ginsburg won several cases against gender discrimination.
12In 1980, she was appointed to serve on a U.S. Court of Appeals.
13She joined the Supreme Court in 1993, under President Bill Clinton.
14Ginsburg spent her final years on the court as the unquestioned leader of its liberal wing.
15She became hugely popular for her defense of the rights of women and minorities.
16Many young people were among her fans, appointing her with the hip-hop style name "Notorious RBG."
17She was also widely respected for the strength she showed in the face of many health issues.
18Those issues included five cancer crises, beginning in 1999.
19She had a bad fall that resulted in broken bones, a heart operation and other hospitalizations all later in life.
20"Our Nation has lost a jurist of historic stature," said Chief Justice John Roberts in a statement.
21"We at the Supreme Court have lost a cherished colleague.
22Today we mourn, but with confidence that future generations will remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as we knew her -- a tireless and resolute champion of justice."
23Her death came just six weeks before election day, November 3.
24The news immediately opened debate over whether President Donald Trump should nominate a replacement and the Republican-led Senate should hold confirmation hearings.
25Trump's main opponent in the race is Democratic Party candidate, Joe Biden.
26Just hours after her death, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement, "President Trump's nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate."
27Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer replied on Twitter, "The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice.
28Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president."
29In 2016, McConnell refused to hold a hearing for a Supreme Court candidate nominated by President Barack Obama, a Democrat.
30McConnell said at the time, "The next president may also nominate someone very different. Either way, our view is this: Give the people a voice."
31National Public Radio reported that Ginsburg told her granddaughter Clara Spera just before she died: "My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed."
32I'm Caty Weaver.
1U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died Friday night at her home in Washington, D.C. She was 87. Her death is likely to set up a political battle over when to nominate a successor. 2Ginsburg died of problems connected to metastatic pancreatic cancer, the court said. Ginsburg announced in July that she was getting chemotherapy treatments for masses on her liver, the latest of her several battles with cancer. 3Ginsburg was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1933. Her dream, she had said, was to be an opera singer. She finished at the top of her Columbia University law school class in 1959 but no law firm would hire her. She had, in her words from 2007, "three strikes against her" - for being Jewish, female and a mother. 4She went to work with the American Civil Liberties Union in the 1970s. Ginsburg won several cases against gender discrimination. In 1980, she was appointed to serve on a U.S. Court of Appeals. She joined the Supreme Court in 1993, under President Bill Clinton. 5Ginsburg spent her final years on the court as the unquestioned leader of its liberal wing. She became hugely popular for her defense of the rights of women and minorities. Many young people were among her fans, appointing her with the hip-hop style name "Notorious RBG." 6She was also widely respected for the strength she showed in the face of many health issues. Those issues included five cancer crises, beginning in 1999. She had a bad fall that resulted in broken bones, a heart operation and other hospitalizations all later in life. 7"Our Nation has lost a jurist of historic stature," said Chief Justice John Roberts in a statement. "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." 8Political debate over replacement 9Her death came just six weeks before election day, November 3. The news immediately opened debate over whether President Donald Trump should nominate a replacement and the Republican-led Senate should hold confirmation hearings. Trump's main opponent in the race is Democratic Party candidate, Joe Biden. 10Just hours after her death, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement, "President Trump's nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate." 11Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer replied on Twitter, "The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president." 12In 2016, McConnell refused to hold a hearing for a Supreme Court candidate nominated by President Barack Obama, a Democrat. McConnell said at the time, "The next president may also nominate someone very different. Either way, our view is this: Give the people a voice." 13National Public Radio reported that Ginsburg told her granddaughter Clara Spera just before she died: "My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed." 14I'm Caty Weaver. 15Caty Weaver wrote this report based on reports from The Associated Press and Reuters news agencies. Hai Do was the editor. 16_______________________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18successor - n. someone who has a job, position after another person 19chemotherapy - n. the use of chemical to treat or control cancer 20cherished - adj. feeling great love 21confidence - n. a feeling that you can do something well 22We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.