Condolences Pour in for Justice Ginsburg

State, Federal officials and Organizations Mourn Passing of Justice Ginsburg

As much of the country mourns the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday at 87, condolences from all corners of the state and country are pouring in.

Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) has issued the following statement on the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg:

“The passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has shaken our nation as we mourn the devastating loss of one of the most consequential voices in history. Throughout her career, Justice Ginsburg fought fiercely to further justice and champion equality while shattering glass ceilings of her own along the way. We all stand stronger on the shoulders of her achievements. Her legacy will continue to inspire and shape the future of our democracy.”

Anthony Romero, Executive Director, ACLU, wrote:

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg leaves a country changed because of her life’s work. We will continue her legacy.

Before serving on the highest court, Ginsburg rose to prominence as an ACLU lawyer fighting for equal rights. She founded the Women’s Rights Project in 1972 and led the ACLU in critical legal battles for almost a decade after.

Ginsburg led the ACLU in a host of important legal battles that established the foundation for the current legal prohibitions against sex discrimination in this country and helped lay the groundwork for future women’s rights advocates.

At the time, most legal scholars believed the law should treat women differently. While some lawyers were taking on cases to protect individual women, Ginsburg aimed to change the law on gender equality entirely.

You can read the ACLU’s full obituary of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg here.

President of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund Alexis McGill Johnson issued the following statement on Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death.

“This is a shocking and painful loss for our country and our court. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s voice, spirit, values, and words will be deeply missed.

“Justice Ginsburg committed her life to protecting the rights, freedoms, and health of women, men, and people across the country. She was a true trailblazer who inspired millions of girls and women to fight through sexism and discrimination to make America a better place to work, to live, and to love.

“Her powerful words over the years, even and perhaps especially in those moments when she spoke so powerfully in dissent, have helped push our laws and our nation toward equality, freedom, and opportunity for all.

“Tonight we honor that legacy, but tomorrow, we’re going to need to get to work to preserve the ideals she spent her life’s work defending. Because this is not an understatement: The fate of our rights, our freedoms, our health care, our bodies, our lives, and our country depend on what happens over the coming months. In her own words, ‘My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.’

“To be very clear, it would be an absolute slap in the face to the millions of Americans who honor and cherish Justice Ginsburg’s legacy if President Trump and Mitch McConnell were to replace her with someone who would undo her life’s work and take away the rights and freedoms for which she fought so hard.

“Congress should not launch another divisive Supreme Court nomination fight like we had with Justice Kavanaugh — it should instead focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, families, public health, ending state-sponsored racism and violence, and economic recovery.

“On behalf of Planned Parenthood’s 16 million supporters and people across the country whose lives and rights would be in jeopardy if President Trump was able to confirm another nominee to the highest court in the land, we vow to honor the legacy of Justice Ginsburg and approach the coming months like the future of our country depends on it — because it absolutely does.”