RBG Undergoes Emergency Heart Surgery, Resting Comfortably
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is resting comfortably and recovering after undergoing emergency heart surgery earlier today. Last night, during one of her legendary workouts with her personal trainer, she experienced discomfort and was taken to the hospital. This morning, she had a stent put in to alleviate blockage in her right coronary artery. The two-time cancer survivor and leader of the liberal wing of the court is expected to be released in the next 48 hours, reports the Chicago Tribune.
From all of us here at FindLaw, we wish her a speedy and comfortable recovery.
Iron[wo]man
ABC notes that Ginsburg has never missed a day of oral arguments due to medical issues, even though she has twice beat cancer while on the bench. RBG was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1999 and pancreatic cancer in 2009. Both times, she powered through, much like she powers through her workouts with her personal trainer.
"When I started, I looked like a survivor of Auschwitz," she told the Washington Post last year. "Now I'm up to 20 push-ups."
Bryant Johnson serves as a records manager in the D.C. federal court by day, and as RBG and Justice Elena Kagan's personal trainer by night. Ginsburg began her workouts in 1999, after beating colon cancer, at her late husband's insistence.
Bottom line: we fully expect the legendary and incredibly tough RBG to beat that blocked artery with ease.
Retirement Talk Swirls
Many news outlets have reiterated RBG's recent refusals to step aside.
Good, because there is nobody quite like her. And if she were to step aside, is there any way President Obama could get anybody though Congress in the next two years, let alone someone who would maintain RBG's legacy and keep the near-balance that currently exists on the court between liberals, conservatives, and Justice Anthony Kennedy? The mid-terms are no longer a mystery -- any nomination is going to face a Republican-controlled Congress.
The Court needs Ruth Bader Ginsburg. We hope she sticks around for as long as she is willing and able.
Related Resources:
- Ginsburg's Interview With Marcia Coyle: 5 Interesting Points (FindLaw's U.S. Supreme Court Blog)
- Obama's 2nd-Term SCOTUS Nomination Odds: A Closer Look (FindLaw's U.S. Supreme Court Blog)
- Studies Show: Ginsburg Was Correct in Voting Rights Act Dissent (FindLaw's U.S. Supreme Court Blog)