Death of "RBG": US Supreme Court threatens to shift to the right

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Mourning Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the US Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court judge died on Friday evening at the age of 87.

Bader Ginsburg was an icon of the US women's movement and fought for civil rights all her life.

She was a Supreme Court judge for 27 years, now she succumbed to cancer.

With the death of Bader Ginsburg, US President Donald Trump has the chance to shape the highest American court for decades and to cement the conservative majority - because the judges will remain in office for life.

Trump had appointed two Conservative judges since his November election - Neil Gorsuch in January 2017 and Brett Kavanaugh in 2019 - despite allegations of sexual abuse against him. 

Shortly after an election campaign appearance, the US President was informed of Bader Ginsburg's death.

Donald Trump, US President

"She just died? Wow. I didn't know that. I'm hearing this for the first time. She's lived an incredible life. What else can you say? She was an incredible woman. Agree or not, she was an incredible woman who lived an incredible life. It makes me sad to hear that. "

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden was deeply moved by the news.

Joe Biden, US Presidential Candidate, Democratic Party

"You know, she was never wrong. She was combative and unwavering in her pursuit of civil rights, civil rights for all. Her views and contradictions will continue to influence the principles of law for a generation . "

Biden insisted that the newly sworn president should propose a successor first. 

Joe Biden, US Presidential Candidate, Democratic Party

"The election is only 46 days ahead of me. I think the fastest appeal ever by a judge was 47 days. The average is closer to 70 days. You should weigh it all up. This is mine Hope and my expectation. "

Legal scholars assume, however, that the Supreme Court is now facing a clear shift to the right.

Jessica Levinson, Professor Loyola Law School, Los Angeles

"This may be a huge win for President Trump as he could nominate a replacement for the seat at lightning speed. Senator Mitch McConnell could get a Senate hearing through, and with Republicans a majority in the Senate, it is foreseeable that President Trump will decide on this seat and that there will again be a majority from conservative judges to liberal ones from six to three. That would be a tremendous legacy for Trump. (...) If you think of criminal law , freedom of expression, freedom of the press, the right to vote, the right to abortion, there are so many issues that are being decided and that a new member of the Supreme Court is likely to have enormous influence on. "

Such a clear majority would mean that the conservative camp will prevail in the future even if individual judges take the liberal side. 

Ruth Bader Ginsburg had foreseen what was in store for the country.

Just a few days ago she said to her granddaughter: "My fervent wish is that my judge's position will not be filled before a new president is sworn in."

Her death is not only a source of grief for the Democratic Party and many civil rights activists in the United States, but also a political disaster.