After a decade-long fight with cancer, Justice Ruth Bater Ginsburg lost her final battle on Friday. However, her fight for gender equality and democracy will continue long after her passing. Serving on the Supreme Court for 27 years, Ginsburg was crucial in the fight for women's rights, redefining the 14th Amendment, and diligently swaying conservative judges towards passing influential voting rights legislation.
However, with less than two months from Election Day, many Americans are fearful as to the future of the vacant court seat. With republicans urging Trump to nominate another conservative, and democrats opposing such an abuse of power, the decision could not be more pressing. While Trump has a long list of potential nominations, it is very unlikely that the administration will be allowed to appoint a new justice so last minute.
Back in 2016, when Obama tried to nominate a new justice months before leaving office, Senator Mitch McConnell blocked the nomination, arguing for the new president to decide who should fill the vacancy. However, when asked to comment on his hypocritical vow to appoint a new justice under Trump’s term, Mr. McConnell claimed the situation was different, promising that the Senate would replace the late justice, despite the contradictory statements.
According to CNN, Pres. Trump told reporters that he would consider a female nomination, a surprise to many.
“I would say that a woman would be in first place," Trump said. "The choice of a woman would be appropriate.”
Certainly, the implications of the nomination cannot be overlooked or downplayed. If Trump is cleared to nominate a justice of his choice, the Supreme Court will be swayed in a conservative direction for years to come. This will completely undermine the democracy of the federal government, due to the checks and balances set up by the Constitution. Luckily, the chances that a new justice will be nominated by Pres. Trump, undergo hearings and finally be nominated by the Senate is quite rare, due to the proximity to the upcoming election.
“Under no circumstances should the Senate consider a replacement for Justice Ginsburg until after the presidential inauguration,” said Calif. Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
While the successor remains unknown, the message to the American people could not be clearer: VOTE. Whether you are 18 years of age, or eligible to pre-register, your vote matters today more than ever before. We have an obligation to protect this nation’s future by practicing the most fundamental democratic right, and vote!
3 comments:
Justice RBG had a huge and important impact on American History and woman's rights, and she will not be forgotten. I think that the current president should not be able to elect a new Supreme Court member when its this close to the election, as doing so would seem like a desperate grab for power that could cause the next president to not get anything done if the current president doesn't get re elected. I think that therefore, the next Justice should be elected by whomever is elected as our next president, so that way there is a chance for the next administration to achieve what they feel is necessary. No matter who is going to win the next election, It is important that every person votes, so that way our leaders can represent the people of the United States accurately.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg was a tireless advocate for women's rights and gender equality. With her passing, however, the question of whether President Trump will be able to appoint a new justice remains. If another Republican judge is appointed, that would equal a 6-3 Republican majority, which will have many implications for the future. Since justices are appointed for life and Supreme Court decisions set a precedent for lower courts, we may see decades of conservative policies. Additionally, there is the possibility for the landmark Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision being overturned, which rules that State and Federal laws outlawing abortion were unconstitutional. As President Trump has already announced possible Justices, the balance of the Supreme Court may be severely tipped.
Yes, Christina brings up another important implication of nominating a new Supreme Court Justice before the 2020 election results. The Roe v. Wade court decision was one of the most controversial and important court case, protecting the most fundamental women's reproductive right. It is extremely appalling and shocking to comprehend how such a necessary and basic right for women to have control over their own body would be overturned, or decided by mainly men. The hypocrisy and impact of such a decision will have a large impact for years to come.
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