Last night, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away at 87 years old after her fight with pancreatic cancer.

Justice Ginsburg was a heroine of her time. A pioneer for gender equality, an icon of groundbreaking jurisprudence, and a beloved mother and grandmother. For decades, she has been a voice for every American, unflinching in her support of opportunity and equity. Her legacy will continue to shape our laws and inspire millions to pursue justice.

She will be missed, but her legacy will be cherished forever.

And yet, as we mourn her passing, there are those in this country working to undermine everything she stood for. Just days before her death, Justice Ginsburg told her granddaughter that her “most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.” Yet, Mitch McConnell cravenly states he will work to fill her seat immediately.

Let me be clear: Under no circumstances should Justice Ginsburg’s seat be filled prior to the inauguration of the next president.

As Joe Biden said last night, the voters should pick the next president, and that president should select a successor to Justice Ginsburg. This is the precedent set by Mitch McConnell in 2016, and it is the precedent the Senate should abide by after the loss of a giant of the Court.

In the meantime, we must continue to organize and mobilize voters, elect a Democratic majority in the House and Senate, replace Donald Trump, and fight for a better future for all Americans.

Julián Castro

     

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