Democracy Dies in Darkness

After lung cancer surgery, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg released from hospital

Doctors said there was ‘no evidence of any remaining disease elsewhere in the body’

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December 26, 2018 at 4:49 p.m. EST
((Caron Creighton/AP; iStock; Lily illustration))

Adapted from a story by The Washington Post’s Deanna Paul.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg underwent a pulmonary lobectomy at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center last week to remove two malignant nodules in her left lung. The 85-year-old justice was discharged from the hospital Tuesday, Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathleen Arberg confirmed.

Friday’s procedure went smoothly, doctors said, and there was “no evidence of any remaining disease elsewhere in the body.”

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has surgery for malignant nodules in her lung

The oldest sitting member of the nation’s highest court, Ginsburg has had her fair share of health scares: She has combated colorectal and pancreatic cancer, though she did not miss an oral argument during treatment, and received a heart stent in her right coronary artery. Last month, she was hospitalized for three fractured ribs.

Because she is one of four liberals on the court, her health has been a point of scrutiny and observation since President Trump’s rise to power.

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Trump called for her resignation during his 2016 presidential campaign, tweeting that her “mind is shot.”

Ginsburg has said she intends to remain on the bench.

“As long as I can do the job full steam, I will do it,” Ginsburg said last year, despite being five years above the average retirement age of the 11 justices preceding her. She has also reportedly hired law clerks through 2020.

Ginsburg will spend the remaining holiday season recuperating at home. The Supreme Court, which is not in session until the new year, will next hear cases Jan. 7.

Samantha Schmidt and Robert Barnes contributed to this report.