Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (87) passed away on Friday due to complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer. Ginsburg was appointed to the court in 1993 (becoming the second woman to join the nation’s highest court), and was widely lauded for her work on gender equality and civil rights. Her death sets the stage for a highly-contentious political battle over when her replacement is chosen.
More context: President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) suggested they will seek to replace Ginsburg on the court this year, while Democratic lawmakers argued that her replacement should be nominated by whichever candidate wins the November presidential election.
Extra: Supreme Court justices are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Here’s a preview of the upcoming selection process.
