Ruth Bader Ginsburg Rebuffs Liberals Who Want Her To Step Down

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg smiles while speaking to the Northern Virginia Technology Council, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013, in Reston, Va. She took part in what event organizers describe as a "fireside chat"... Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg smiles while speaking to the Northern Virginia Technology Council, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013, in Reston, Va. She took part in what event organizers describe as a "fireside chat" with former U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson. Olson served as solicitor general from 2001 to 2004 under President George W. Bush and is still a frequent advocate before the court. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) MORE LESS
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Progressives are anxiously calling for her retirement, but Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg isn’t fazed. The leader of the Supreme Court’s liberal wing made clear in a recent interview she has no intention of stepping down before the November elections, when Republicans have a chance at taking over the Senate.

“It’s expectable. I’m now the oldest judge on the court. I can’t say that I ignore it, but I have to do what seems to me to be right,” Ginsburg, 81, told the Wall Street Journal’s Jess Bravin in an interview.

She maintained that she won’t step down as long as she remains in good health. “I do know that once I feel I am slipping, I will not stay here, because this is a very hard job,” she said. “But that time, thank goodness, has not yet come.”

The issue has been on her mind, though. John Paul Stevens, the most senior liberal-leaning justice before he stepped down in 2010, said two weeks ago that Ginsburg had approached him for advice on when to retire, and he told her she didn’t need his advice.

“I think [it’s] certainly natural and appropriate to think about your successor,” Stevens said April 20 on ABC’s “This Week.” “You’re interested in the job and the kind of work is done you have to have an interest in who is going to fill your shoes.”

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Notable Replies

  1. Gawd, lets all clutch our pearls now. Instead of calling for her retirement, why don’t you work to get democrats to vote?

  2. Hey Ruth. It’s not about YOU!

  3. Avatar for Libs Libs says:

    Liberals are afraid that Ginsburg will step down after the next Republican President is elected, which means another Republican leaning Justice will be placed on SCOTUS. More compelling evidence that SCOTUS Justices need to be elected by The People on regular elections every 4 years and that lifetime appointments need to be stopped.

  4. Sigh. I know of almost no liberal who is afraid the 2016 Republican clown car will produce a credible, electable candidate. The concern here is that if Republicans take the Senate, they’ll refuse to confirm Obama’s nominee hoping to push it off to 2017. If her seat is vacated because of illness she may not be able to participate in the process at all. That would then allow the conservatives on the bench to further destroy the country as they’ve been so intent on doing.

  5. after the next Republican President is elected,

    Which will be in a looooong time…

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