Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post via Getty Images
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a leading liberal voice on the court who campaigned for women's rights and became an unexpected pop culture icon, has died at the age of 87, the court said Friday .
The judiciary died at home in Washington, DC, of complications from metastatic pancreatic cancer. She was surrounded by her family. The judiciary announced in July 2020 that she was undergoing chemotherapy for cancer recurrence. She had previously been treated four times for cancer.
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"Our nation has lost a justice of historic stature," Chief Justice John Roberts said in a statement. "We at the Supreme Court have lost a valued colleague. Today we mourn, but with the confidence that future generations will remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as we knew her, a tired and determined advocate of justice."
Ginsburg was named the highest court in the country by President Bill Clinton in 1993. She was the second woman appointed to the court and served for over 27 years.
Ginsburg was born on March 15, 1933 to Jewish parents in Brooklyn. She received her bachelor's degree from Cornell University, attended Harvard Law School, and received her LL.B. from Columbia Law School. In 1954 she married Martin D. Ginsburg, a prominent lawyer. In 1971 she helped launch the American Civil Liberties Union's women's rights project and was General Counsel of the ACLU from 1973 to 1980 and a member of the National Board of Directors from 1974 to 1980.
In 2016 the judiciary wrote My Own Words, a compilation of their speeches and writings. The documentary RBG, about her life as an unexpected pop culture icon, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2018 and later opened in theaters.
Immediately on Friday evening, honors poured in to the Ginsburg from politicians, animators, athletes, CEOs and regular Americans who looked up to Ginsburg and wanted to thank her.
"She fought for the unheard and changed the course of American history through her decisions." Apple CEO Tim Cook tweeted. We can never repay what she gave us, but we can all honor her legacy by working together for real equality. "
Ruth Bader Ginsburg spent her life in search of a world of equality. She fought for the unheard and changed the course of American history through her decisions. We can never repay what she gave us, but we can all honor her legacy by working together for real equality. pic.twitter.com/lh6bioRuED
- Tim Cook (@tim_cook) 19th September 2020
"Today, on Jewish New Year's Day, we remember the principle of 'Tikkun Olam', which says that the world is flawed and our job is to leave it better than it was. Designer Kenneth Cole tweeted. "Ruth Bader Ginsburg did that."
Today. On Jewish New Year's Day we remember the principle of "Tikkun Olam", which states: The world is flawed and our job is to leave it better than it was. Ruth Bader Ginsburg did that. #RIPRBG
- Kenneth Cole (@kennethcolereal) 19th September 2020
Justice Ginsburg paved the way for so many women, including me. There will never be one. Thank you RBG.
- Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) 19th September 2020
It is devastating, an incalculable loss. We owe so much to the RBG. Rest in power Ruth Bader Ginsburg. #RIPRBG
- Megan Rapinoe (@mPinoe) 19th September 2020
"Justice Ginsburg paved the way for so many women, including me." Former Senator Hillary Clinton tweeted. "There will never be one. Thank you RBG."
"This is devastating, an incalculable loss," said the US soccer star Megan Rapinoe tweeted. "We owe so much to RBG."
Read more on our CNET sister site CBSNews.com.
