See below for a statement by Sen. Tim Kaine on the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg earlier today. Of course, we all mourn her loss, and wish her family and friends condolences. Unfortunately, we have to immediately think of what comes next in terms of the Supreme Court, given that Trump and McConnell are almost certain to try to ram through a replacement as quickly as possible. In this statement, Sen. Kaine says “the Senate should wait until after the next inauguration before considering a nominee to fill this vacancy,” and that he “will do everything he can to ensure that this Supreme Court seat is not filled until then.” That’s good, but in the end, we’re going to need several Republican Senators – Murkowski? Collins? Romney? other(s)? – to refuse to consider a Supreme Court nomination until after they see what the American people decide on November 3rd…
KAINE STATEMENT ON JUSTICE GINSBURG
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today upon the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg:
“Justice Ginsburg’s legacy lies in a legal system far fairer than the one she found as one of only nine women in her first-year Harvard Law class. As a litigator, she rid our country of statutes that discriminated against women who were breadwinners and men who were child-rearers. As a justice, her majority opinions opened Virginia’s last all-male public school to women and freed people with disabilities from the isolating confines of institutions. Just as famously, she was uncompromising when the Court erred on issues of equality and fundamental rights, penning dissents that sharply defended the Voting Rights Act and women’s access to reproductive health care, all while reminding us ‘you can disagree without being disagreeable.’
“Quite simply, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a giant.
“My condolences go out to the Ginsburg family, the Court, and the over 300 million Americans who benefit from the more perfect union she brought about.”
In light of the Scalia precedent and the fact that voting is already underway in multiple states, Senator Kaine believes the Senate should wait until after the next inauguration before considering a nominee to fill this vacancy. He will do everything he can to ensure that this Supreme Court seat is not filled until then.
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