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Ruth Bader Ginsburg in a photo from 2017
Photo:
Jonathan Ernst / REUTERS
The US constitutional judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg is dead. She died that evening at the age of 87 in her home in Washington, said the Supreme Court, the country’s highest court.
She died of pancreatic cancer that had metastasized.
Ginsburg was a member of the liberal wing of the Supreme Court.
She was appointed Supreme Court judge by then US President Bill Clinton in 1993 and was extremely popular with many Americans, among other things because of her commitment to women's rights.
The 87-year-old was diagnosed with cancer several times in the past.
Her health problems had raised concerns among her supporters about the future composition of the Supreme Court.
In the nine-member judges' college, the conservative forces already have a preponderance, which could now be further expanded if a conservative successor for Ginsburg is appointed.
US President Donald Trump has appointed two conservative judges to the Supreme Court since he took office.
The US Supreme Court justices are appointed for life.
Ginsburg had repeatedly stressed that she would only withdraw from the Supreme Court if she found herself unable to cope with her workload.
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