Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dies at 87

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on Friday at age 87 from complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer.  She served on the court for 27 years and was perhaps it’s best known member.  Ginsburg’s vacancy has set off a fierce political battle over the timing of her replacement. President Trump has promised to announce his pick to replace Ginsburg by the end of the week.  The president suggested that Ginsburg’s dying wish that her replacement be chosen after the November election, as told to NPR by her granddaughter, was in fact something made up by Democrats.  

Two of the front-runners for the nomination are Hon. Amy Coney Barrett of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and Hon. Barbara Lagoa of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.  Barrett clerked for Justice Antonin Scalia and most of her experience is in academia.  She was a law professor at Notre Dame Law School prior to taking the bench in 2017.  Barrett is 48 years old and is widely admired by Republicans for her conservative views, which often have been in stark contrast to those of Justice Ginsburg.  Lagoa, a 52-year old Cuban-American, was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Florida, in private practice with Greenberg Traurig in Miami, and a member of the Florida Supreme Court prior to taking the bench in 2019.