Possible Changes at the Supreme Court

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer today. Justice Ginsburg, who will turn 76 next month, was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on her pancreas during a recent annual check-up in advance of any symptoms of the disease being noticed. It is hoped that the early discovery will permit Justice Ginsberg to recover fully.

But it raises the possibility of possible new appointments to the Supreme Court by President Obama. Justice Stevens at age 88 and Justice Ginsburg at age 75 have been viewed as possible candidates for replacement by the President during the this term due to their age. It happens that both Justices are considered to be part of the liberal wing of the Court, so President Obama may not be changing the makeup of the Court if he needs to make an appointment. Justices are appointed for life or until they decide to retire. President Bush appointed two Justices with the death of Chief Justice Rehnquist and the retirement of Justice O’Conner. The nomination of judges to serve as Justices of the Supreme Court is viewed as one of the most significant and long lasting acts of any President’s term of office.

Justice Ginsburg was a law professor at Rutgers Law School and Columbia Law School. She served as general counsel for the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) and served on the national board of directors for the ACLU. She served as judge of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and was nominated by President Clinton in 1993 as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.