Ruth Bader Ginsburg to lie in state at Supreme Court, US Capitol

Sep 21, 2020

The death last week of Ruth Bader Ginsburg stripped the court, which was already tilted to the right, of one of its steadiest liberal votes.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg will lie in repose at the Supreme Court on Wednesday and Thursday, before lying in state Friday at the US Capitol, both institutions announced.

The late justice, whose death at age 87 has given President Donald Trump a rare chance to cement a conservative majority on the court, will be buried next week in a private ceremony in Arlington, near the US capital.

President Donald Trump said Monday he will announce his nominee for the empty Supreme Court seat at the end of this week, kickstarting a political fight set to upend the already nail-biting US election.

"I will announce it either Friday or Saturday and then the work begins, but hopefully it won't be too much work," Trump said in an interview with Fox News.

Down in the polls against Democratic opponent Joe Biden and widely criticized for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, the Republican is seizing on the sudden vacancy at the constitutional court as a way to change the subject and super-charge his right-wing base.

The death last week of Ruth Bader Ginsburg stripped the court, which was already tilted to the right, of one of its steadiest liberal votes.

With a chance to name his third new justice since entering the White House, Trump is now on the cusp of installing a firmly conservative majority for many years to come.

Biden is leading calls for the Republican-controlled Senate to delay voting on a nominee until the results of the November 3 election are known, arguing that to rush through confirmation before would be an "abuse of power."

But Trump made clear Monday that he has no qualms in flexing his political muscle and his allies in the Senate have said they intend to deliver.

Trump said his nominee announcement will wait until after memorial services for Ginsburg are completed. But then he wants to move full speed ahead.

"The final vote should be taken before the election. We have plenty of time for that," Trump said.

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