After the Notorious R.B.G. passed on Friday, the world mourns another 2020 tragedy.
(@notoriousrbg / Instagram)
At the young age of 87, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died on Friday, September 18th due to complications with metastatic pancreatic cancer.
According to the court statement, she died surrounded by her family in Washington, D.C.
In a statement, Chief Justice John Roberts said: “Our nation has lost a jurist of historic stature. 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.”
Tiny but mighty at only 5”1, RBG had a huge impact throughout her time as a Supreme Court justice. Known for her strong liberal voice, RBG stood up marginalized populations and was a strong advocate for women’s rights.
Her Political Contributions Were Numerous
In 1980, she became the second female Supreme Court Justice and the first female Jewish Supreme Court Justice after being appointed by President Jimmy Carter. She was also the longest-serving female woman on the Supreme Court, and she didn't take it for granted.
Throughout her 13 years on the Supreme Court, she's participated in groundbreaking rulings.
She’s ruled against gender-exclusive admissions policies via United States v. Virginia 1996, and voted in support of gay marriage via Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015. Though there are several quotes she's known for, her most famous one was "I dissent", which she wrote when going against the majority opinion during Bush v. Gore in 2000.
In agreement with her representation of the first female Jewish member of SCOTUS, she had the phrase “In the year of Our Lord” removed from Supreme Court bar certificates in 2018, since the said "Lord" only applies to justices who practice Christianity.
And while all these achievements should be celebrated, let's not forget that RBG was a badass even before becoming a justice. She co-founded the ACLU’S Women’s Rights Project in 1973.
A Pop Culture Phenomenon
The legendary feminist justice has her own self-titled documentary and numerous portrayals on SNL. Her face has been plastered on shirts, memes and has even been inked onto people’s skin as tattoos.
Arguably the most prominent pop culture reference Ginsberg has been stamped on: The Notorious R.B.G.
Now with a newly empty seat on the court, a nomination fight may ensue. According to an ABC News report, Trump is planning to put forth a nomination within the coming days.
A nomination from Trump would solidify the conservative hold over the Supreme Court. Some argue that the nomination should wait until after this year's election, in order to better reflect the people’s will.
No. No. No.
In reaction to the death of RBG, "No. No. No." has been trending on Twitter with 2.6 million tweets. For many, her death represents another hit of grievance that has flooded the year of 2020. Others show concern for what this means for the Supreme Court now that the opportunity for another republican Justice opens up. .
Members of Congress mourn a force to be reckoned with:
In person, thousands crowd outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. to mourn RBG together
There's no question that RBG paved the way for thousands of women across the nation, and her legacy will continue to be felt in the years to come. As far as what comes next, I think RBG would agree that we need to continue to show our support by showing up at the polls. Share your thoughts. Use your voice.
"The greatest menace to freedom is an inert people," she said. "Public discussion is a political duty; and that this should be a fundamental principle of the American government.”
This is a developing story, and this post will be updated as more information becomes available.
Michelle Holder is an Online and Print Writer at Rowdy Magazine. She is passionate about international affairs and travel. You can typically find her buried in a book or drinking expressos at local coffee shops. Contact her at michellecholder@gmail.com or find her on Twitter @michellecholder.
Online Editor Lauren Rousseau contributed in reporting this story.