Sponsor

Main Ad

Utahns react to death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg — a ‘trailblazer,' ‘gifted lawyer’ and ‘true hero’ https://ift.tt/2REgsYb

Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), chariman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, escorts Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Pres. Clinton's choice for Supreme Court vacancy, on Capitol Hill, June 15, 1993. (AP Photo/Marcy Nighswander)Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg speaks to students at New England Law School in Boston Friday, March 13, 2009. Ginsburg said advice and camaraderie from her fellow justices have helped her in her fight against pancreatic cancer. The 75-year-old had surgery last month to remove a small malignant tumor but returned to the bench without missing a day of work. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)President Clinton and Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg walk to the Rose Garden of the White House Tuesday August 3, 1993 to meet with reporters. Earlier, the Senate voted 96-3 to confirm Ginsburg to the Supreme Court, making her the second woman to serve on the high court. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)Associate Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg arrives for President Barack Obama address to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, Pool)Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg speaks to the American Bar Association House of Delegates after receiving the ABA Medal in San Francisco, Monday, Aug. 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)President Barack Obama greets Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg prior to his State of the Union address in front of a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Saul Loeb, Pool)Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg poses for a photo in her chambers at the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, July 24, 2013, before an interview with the Associated Press. Ginsburg said during the interview that it was easy to foresee that Southern states would push ahead with tougher voter identification laws and other measures once the Supreme Court freed them from strict federal oversight of their elections. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)FILE - In this July 24, 2013, file photo Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg poses for a photo in her chambers at the Supreme Court in Washington, before an interview with the Associated Press. Ginsburg will officiate at a same-sex wedding this weekend in what is believed to be a first for a member of the nation’s highest court. Ginsburg will officiate Saturday, aug. 31, 2013, at the marriage of Kennedy Center President Michael Kaiser and John Roberts, a government economist. Kaiser told The Associated Press he asked Ginsburg to officiate because she is a longtime friend. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)From left to right, U.S. Supreme Court, Associate Justices, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, on stage during a Women's History Month reception at Statuary Hall on Capitol Hill, hosted by Democratic Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-CA., Wednesday, March 18, 2015 in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg poses for her official portrait at the Court in Washington on Friday, Oct. 1, 1993. The Court will officially open its 1993 term on Monday. (AP Photo/Doug Mills)FILE - In this June 14, 1993, file photo, President Bill Clinton poses with his nominee for the Supreme Court Ruth Bader Ginsburg during a news conference in Washington. The Supreme Court says Ginsburg has died of metastatic pancreatic cancer at age 87. (AP Photo/Doug Mills)Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, smiles as she attends a panel discussion celebrating Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to be a Supreme Court Justice, Wednesday Sept. 25, 2019, at the Library of Congress in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)Supreme Court nominee Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg is greeted by her husband Martin as she introduced her family during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, July 20, 1993 in Washington. Ginsburg's son James and wife Lisa Brauston are at left. (AP Photo/John Duricka)House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., right, participates in her annual Women's History Month reception in Statuary Hall on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 18, 2015. Pelosi honored the women Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, Associate Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, center, and Sonia Sotomayor. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)FILE - In this July 20, 1993, file photo, then-Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, talks to Supreme Court nominee Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg prior to the start of her confirmation hearing before the committee on Capitol Hill in Washington.The Supreme Court says Ginsburg has died of metastatic pancreatic cancer at age 87. (AP Photo/John Duricka, File)This image released by Magnolia Pictures shows U.S. Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg in a scene from "RBG." (Magnolia Pictures via AP)

As the world learned Friday evening of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death, Utahns took to Twitter to pay their respects to the champion of women’s rights.

The court said the 87-year-old died from complications from metastatic pancreatic cancer. She was appointed by President Bill Clinton and became the second woman to sit on the court.

Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, met Ginsburg two years ago when she spoke at the Utah State Bar Convention in Idaho. There, she gave advice to young lawyers, telling them, “Do something outside of yourself. Something that will make a difference.”

Cox said, “She had a brilliant legal mind and was every bit as funny and engaging as advertised. We obviously disagreed on many legal opinions, but honor her legacy as a trailblazer and dedicated public servant.”

Other Utahns got a chance to see Ginsburg when she attended the Sundance Film Festival in Park City in 2018 for the premiere of the “RBG” documentary, which chronicled her life and recent ascendence to celebrity and cultural icon.

She called Park City “a wonderful town. It’s part out of a fairy tale, and part looks like Switzerland. I wish I hadn’t given away my skis.”

Retired longtime Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch described Ginsburg as “a dear friend," whose influence went “well beyond the Supreme Court.”

“Of course, it’s no secret that Justice Ginsburg and I were on opposite sides on most issues. But we both loved this country greatly, and that was the kindling of a decades-long friendship,” he said. “I hope that as an American family, we can one day look beyond politics to see what’s best in each other as Ruth and I did.”

Rep. Chris Stewart, a Republican, was among the first prominent Utahns to tweet about Ginsburg’s death, saying, “My prayers are with her family and loved ones.” His Republican colleague, Rep. John Curtis also paid his respects, saying Ginsburg’s legacy would be celebrated in the future and that she helped shape the nation.

Ben McAdams, the only Democrat in Utah’s Congressional delegation, compliment Ginsburg for living a life of dedication and commitment.

“She made a lasting mark on the bench and our entire nation. I am grateful for the service she gave to our country and send my deep condolences to her family and loved ones,” McAdams said.

Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican, tweeted to remember Ginsburg and offer condolences to her family.

“Justice Ginsburg devoted her entire life to reading, interpreting, and understanding the law," he said. “To describe her as a gifted lawyer and jurist who had a profound influence on our country is an understatement.”

Lee (and his brother Thomas) are both on President Donald Trump’s U.S. Supreme Court short list.

Ginsburg said in a statement days before her death that, “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed," NPR reported.

Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, a Republican, called Ginsburg a “tireless advocated, dedicated jurist and beloved role model for a generation of women,” according to a tweet.

And Reyes Democratic challenger for A.G., Greg Skordas, also weighed in, saying Ginsburg was an “outstanding” Supreme Court justice.

“She is a pioneer of the modern movement for justice, fairness and gender equality,” he said.

State Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, tweeted that with Ginsburg’s death, the U.S. lost a “true hero.”

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said she was “speechless” at Ginsburg’s death.

“She was an iconic, trailblazing, intellectual woman. My thoughts are with her family and our nation," Mendenhall said.

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez commented that the Navajo National is stronger because of her contributions to the court.

“Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg leaves behind a great legacy of fighting for the rights of all people. She was a true champion of justice. Her compassion for all people will always be cherished,” he said.

The Navajo Nation spans more than 27,000 square miles in Utah, Arizona and New Mexico.




from The Salt Lake Tribune https://ift.tt/3hLprRU
September 19, 2020 at 06:41AM

Post a Comment

0 Comments