Justice Ginsburg laments partisanship at Stanford talk
ASSOCIATED PRESS
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg spoke at Stanford University.
STANFORD, Calif. >> U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg lamented partisanship in Congress during a talk at Stanford University today and said she hoped it would return to an era when “it was working for the good of the country and not just along party lines.”
Ginsburg did not address the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court seat vacated by the late Justice Antonin Scalia or President Donald Trump’s travel ban, which could end up before the high court. But she did say she would like to change the Electoral College, a comment that drew applause from the packed church. She did not elaborate.
Ginsburg said during the presidential campaign that she presumed Democrat Hillary Clinton would win and have the opportunity to make a few appointments to the court.
She said at the time she did not want to think about the possibility of a Trump victory, calling Trump in one interview a “faker” who “really has an ego.”
She later apologized and said her remarks were ill-advised.
Ginsburg recalled Monday that she received bipartisan support for her nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, saying Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch was her most ardent supporter.
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“I think today he wouldn’t touch me with a 10-foot pole,” she joked.
The 83-year-old justice offered personal reflections at a discussion billed as an exploration of what it means to lead a meaningful life.
Ginsburg’s talk came after Trump last week nominated Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. The nomination would likely restore the court’s conservative tilt.
Ginsburg is the leader of the court’s liberal wing. She is also the oldest justice on the court and has survived pancreatic and colon cancer, creating anxiety among liberals about her health and the future of their causes if Trump gets an opportunity to replace her or any of the other liberal judges on the bench.
Ginsburg supporters have joked about steps she could take to stay healthy such as eating more kale. Asked by a Stanford student who else should eat more kale in Washington, D.C., the justice quipped, “Justice Kennedy.” Anthony Kennedy, 80, is the second oldest justice on the Supreme Court and is considered a swing vote.
Ginsburg has shown no signs of slowing down and has said she has a personal trainer who leads her through hour-long workouts that include push-ups and weights. She said family plays a large part in her life, and she doesn’t admit defeat.
“The attitude is I’m going to surmount this whatever it is,” she said.
8 responses to “Justice Ginsburg laments partisanship at Stanford talk”
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She is one of the most partisan judges on the court….no doubt about that. The democrats always count on her as being on its side when it comes to decisions. Example, she voted in favor of same-sex union. Instead of excusing herself because she had previously performed a marriage of such union, she voted and went along with the democratic agenda. This lady and the whole US Supreme Court is a very partisan court which is sad for this country. Legislation from the bench is what it’s called.
????? one breath it’s partisan and in the next, it’s the democrats can count on her!
That’s right codger, she is partisan towards the democratic party and its ideals. She favors the liberal agenda. What don’t you understand here.
Justice Ginsburg is accurate in her evaluation of the United States has become partisan over time. Most of us saw it coming over the years and it will for certain get worst. Where the only resolution will come in a National emergency. The non-religious Liberals (Democrats) and religious Conservatives (Republicans) will dig in on their positions. The split and difference in ideology between both will grow and become very intense. Interesting that Justice Ginsburg doesn’t recognize that she is a leader on the Liberal Left and criticizes those on the Conservative Right causing the partisanship. Auwe.
She is not a good fit for the United States Supreme Court. She took an oath to protect and defend the constitution, yet she routinely complains about it and supports cases that are counter to it. “Change the Electoral College”? It’s in the Constitution! She has special hate for the 10th Amendment because she believes in a big federal care-bear government. Given the chance, she would do away with states altogether.
IRT HakunaMatata, Justice Ginsburg believes in legislating from the Bench, as all Progressives believe and the Constitution is to be molded into her values and beliefs. For certain she is not an Originalist.
She’s one of the most partisan on the court
Embodiment of argument against lifetime appointment for judges.