Ruth Bader Ginsburg: "She would have liked to be able to stay beyond this election", assures her grandson

TESTIMONY

An icon of American justice whose death upsets the American presidential election, scheduled for November.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a progressive judge appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States, died on September 18 at the age of 87.

His grandson, actor Paul Spera, reconsiders his grandmother's last wish: "not to be replaced until a new president is sworn in".

"She would have liked to be able to stay beyond this election," he says.

"She wanted to continue as long as possible in her work as a judge." 

>> Find Matthieu Belliard's interview in replay and podcast here 

His death upsets the balance between conservatives and progressives within the judiciary.

In fact, a Supreme Court judge is appointed for life and when one of the nine positions becomes available, the President of the United States must appoint a successor.

The magistrate is then heard by the Senate, then confirmed by a vote.

In 2016, after the death of Judge Antonin Gregory Scalia, Barack Obama was unable to appoint the judge of his choice, his decision being blocked by the Republican majority.

The latter invoked the approaching presidential election, wishing to leave to the voters the choice of the new judge according to the sensitivity of the new president.

"An example for me"

This time, Donald Trump, the Republican Party candidate for re-election, however, does not intend to wait and questioned the last will of the progressive judge.

He must announce on Saturday the name of the candidate chosen to replace her.

Thursday, at the time of collecting in front of the remains of "RBG", the president was also booed with cries of "Honor his wish" or "Release it by the vote".

Republicans have a majority of 53 out of 100 seats in the Upper House and their leader, Mitch McConnell has already made it known that he will organize a vote if Donald Trump announces his choice.

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Why the death of Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg upsets the US presidential election

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was appointed to the high court in 1993 by President Bill Clinton and enjoys great popularity.

A pioneer in the fight for the emancipation of women, she has also defended other developments in American society, approaching young people on issues such as abortion or same-sex marriage.

"She was a magnificent woman. We were very close. I was very lucky to know her for 34 years," says Paul Spera.

"She lived in Washington, I grew up in New York, and there was something special about her being a grandmother who was not retired," he recalls. 

"It was very important for me, because it was an example", he confides, saddened at not being able to attend the tribute to his grandmother, because of coronavirus.