This Friday, high-profile U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg announced that she had been receiving treatment for a resurgence of cancer, which has plagued her in the past. This time, she says that chemotherapy is “yielding positive results,” and, in her statement shared by the court, she insists that she has every intention to continue with her Supreme Court work for the time being. She is one of the four remaining “liberal” justices on the nine-member court, which currently includes two judges nominated by Donald Trump. One of Trump’s nominees, Neil Gorsuch, has their seat because Senate Republicans refused to hold hearings for then-President Barack Obama’s nominee when the seat was initially vacated. Thus, Trump had the chance to fill the seat.
Ginsburg had already been reported to have been recently hospitalized to treat an infection. In her statement, she says that the infection was unrelated to the resurgence of cancer that she’s faced and the subsequent treatment. She explains:
‘On May 19, I began a course of chemotherapy (gemcitabine) to treat a recurrence of cancer. A periodic scan in February followed by a biopsy revealed lesions on my liver… Immunotherapy first essayed proved unsuccessful. The chemotherapy course, however, is yielding positive results. Satisfied that my treatment course is now clear, I am providing this information.’
She adds that on July 7, a scan “indicated significant reduction of the liver lesions and no new disease,” adding that she is “tolerating chemotherapy well” and is “encouraged by the success of my current treatment.”
In her statement, Ginsburg adds that she has been continuing with her court work and will be continuing to. She explains:
‘I will continue bi-weekly chemotherapy to keep my cancer at bay, and am able to maintain an active daily routine. Throughout, I have kept up with opinion writing and all other Court work. I have often said I would remain a member of the Court as long as I can do the job full steam. I remain fully able to do that.’
The current make-up of the court has left Chief Justice John Roberts, a generally conservative appointee of George W. Bush, as the closest approximation to a real “swing” vote, although even Trump’s own appointees have occasionally broken with the party line. For example, in a recently decided case involving the question of whether or not prosecutors in Manhattan would be able to access Trump’s tax returns, both Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh ruled against the president’s arguments that he should be exempt from the subpoena because of some vague notions of presidential privilege.
Way back in 2016, Trump had a public meltdown after Ginsburg aptly criticized his belligerence.
He whined:
‘Justice Ginsburg of the U.S. Supreme Court has embarrassed all by making very dumb political statements about me. Her mind is shot – resign! Is Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg going to apologize to me for her misconduct? Big mistake by an incompetent judge! If I win the Presidency, we will swamp Justice Ginsburg with real judges and real legal opinions!’
What a complaint-ridden loser — who is now, of course, the president.
Justice Ginsburg of the U.S. Supreme Court has embarrassed all by making very dumb political statements about me. Her mind is shot – resign!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 13, 2016
Is Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg going to apologize to me for her misconduct? Big mistake by an incompetent judge!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 13, 2016
If I win the Presidency, we will swamp Justice Ginsburg with real judges and real legal opinions!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 13, 2016
