Washington, D.C. – Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died at her home on Friday.
The 87-year-old died due to complications from metastatic pancreas cancer, according to CNN.
“Our Nation has lost a jurist of historic stature,” Chief Justice John Roberts announced. “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.”
Ginsburg had been diagnosed with cancer fives times.
The liberal justice was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1993 and her death leaves her seat open less then two months before an election, according to The Hill.
The open position is sure to set off a battle between Republicans and Democrats as Republicans try to push through a replacement before the election, and Democrats attempt to delay in hopes of a potential Joe Biden win.
If Republicans are able to fill Ginsburg’s seat with a conservative justice, it could skew the court towards conservatives and result in decades of wins for conservatives in cases of national importance.
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.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) September 18, 2020