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* Posted in the order they were received on Friday. US Rep. Lauren Underwood…
It is impossible to put into words the sadness and grief our country feels with the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Justice Ginsburg was a giant for justice and a force that represented the best of our judicial system and our country. I am personally shaken and devastated. Her fierce advocacy for the protection of rights for all people under the law—women, workers, LGBTQ people alike—and her guardianship of the Constitution must not be taken for granted. As a lawyer, she challenged and defined ‘equal justice under the law’ in a way that changed our country to make it fairer and better. As a Supreme Court justice, she upheld those sacred principles. Her life and work paved a way for women like me to challenge norms and fight for people and causes that make our country stronger.
Our democracy depends on the American people having a voice by electing a President who will fill this vacancy.
* US Sen. Tammy Duckworth…
There are no words to adequately express just how devastated and heartbroken I am to learn of the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Not only did our nation lose a brilliant jurist, we lost a hero—a 5’1” giant who gave a voice to girls and women everywhere and moved the needle forward in our long fight toward justice and equality for all.
Like so, so many other Americans tonight, I am deeply grateful for all that Justice Ginsburg did to ensure equal protection under the law for women across this country and to defend the rights of so many others. She will be sorely missed, but her unparalleled legacy and impact will never be forgotten.
Tonight we are devastated, but tomorrow we will roll up our sleeves and keep working. We must honor her legacy by redoubling our efforts to safeguard the rights of women, the rights of Americans with disabilities and the rights of all Americans for future generations. We cannot let up now.
* Gov. JB Pritzker…
America has lost an icon and inspiration. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was first a trailblazer and then a bulwark for equality, whether you are a woman, gay, a person of color or disabled. Just as importantly, she was a shining role model for girls everywhere - a testament to working hard and fighting for what’s right. Her legacy will endure, but only if we fight as hard as she did to protect it.
MK and I grieve for Justice Ginsberg’s family, friends and followers - but most of all, our entire nation. Our prayer is that we honor this giant by honoring her fervent dying wish.
* US Rep. Bill Foster…
The passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a devastating loss for the Supreme Court and our country, and my thoughts go to her family during this very difficult time. Americans of all backgrounds benefitted from her fierce commitment to defending the rights enshrined in our Constitution. She was truly a pioneer in the legal world and an American hero.
Very soon, the principles of personal integrity and fair play on which the Senate has always operated will be tested, as each Senator decides whether to abide by recent precedent that a vacancy on the Court should not be filled before the American people have a chance to make their voices heard in an upcoming presidential election.
* US Sen. Dick Durbin…
The Supreme Court’s most valiant champion for justice in our lifetime is gone. Justice Ginsburg was an American hero.
Please remember Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s demand that Supreme Court vacancies go unfilled during a presidential election year, which was also Justice Ginsburg’s dying wish. Senator McConnell pleaded with us to let the voters have the last word. Every member of the Senate should be asked to commit to the McConnell Rule.
Rest in peace, Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
* Republican Cook County State’s Attorney Candidate Judge Pat O’Brien…
I am deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. A brilliant lawyer and justice who not only fought valiantly for the rights of women and minorities but also became a mentor for generations.
Justice Ginsburg broke barriers to become a respected and formidable legal mind and force on the court. Her work earned her the respect from leaders on both sides of the political aisle and her influence was evident from millennials to seniors. This is truly a sad day for all Americans.
* Thomas More Society Founder, President and Chief Counsel Tom Brejcha…
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will go down in legal history as a Jurist of very high stature and lasting repute who played a pioneering and pivotal role in paving the way for the advancement of women lawyers to their present positions of power and influence in our legal profession. She was supremely gifted and dedicated in her singular devotion and masterly contributions to the legal and associated social reforms that brought about this monumental progress over the many decades of her labors. But what marks her as a truly legendary jurist is her fidelity to the law, as a body of principles that stands apart from, and transcends, mere policy preferences and political partisanship, however deeply felt and ardently fought for. Thus we witnessed her voting twice in favor of our advocacy, which was assailed (stridently albeit baselessly) in so many quarters in the marathon NOW vs. Scheidler litigation, which gave birth to our Thomas More Society, a public interest law firm. The case lasted over 28 years from start to finish, and it culminated in a pair of successive U.S. Supreme Court decisions against the use of the federal racketeering and extortion laws against peaceable non-violent political protest. In that case, Justice Ginsburg joined an 8-1 majority in Scheidler II, handed down in 2003, and then again she joined an 8-0 majority in Scheidler III, handed down in 2006 (Justice O’Connor having retired, or it would have been 9-0) — proving herself faithful to the operative legal principles that proved dispositive, despite the fact that she was casting her vote against the National Organization for Women, another high profile advocate for the cause, so styled, of women’s rights. We deeply disagreed with her about abortion rights, but we too, at the Thomas More Society, salute her record of judicial service and mourn her passing.
* Illinois Holocaust Museum…
According to Jewish tradition, a person who dies on Rosh Hashanah, which began tonight, is a person of great righteousness. That is certainly true of Justice Ginsburg.
“As an institution, we have been lucky enough to be telling her remarkable story for the last 7 months, whether in person in our Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg exhibition or virtually,” says VP of Education and Exhibitions, Kelley Szany. “She has become a friend to us.”
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an amazing woman, full of spunk and grace and a quiet yet steely determination. She came of age in a time that was not supportive of women and the role they play in society. She fought discrimination at Harvard Law and when trying to find a job.
When she volunteered at the ACLU and saw the many challenges faced by women through their letters, it informed her life’s work. She used the law as a vehicle for change. And to reinforce the tenant that all people are created equal.
Her commitment to changing society was consistent and deliberate, and she argued case after case with the underlying theme that people should not be defined by their sex.
RBG was not just an attorney and judge, but a woman of huge heart, giant vision, and remarkable work ethic. She also became a cultural icon, gaining the attention and respect of so many through her humor, workouts, and fashion sense, using her collars to indicate her point of view for Supreme court decisions.
“While we will continue to tell RBG’s story at our Museum through January, we will always be inspired by her and will work to build on her legacy in the ongoing fight for human rights,” says Museum CEO Susan Abrams.
Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg explores the life of mother, lawyer, judge, Supreme Court Justice, and pop culture icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg and is on display through Jan. 3, 2021. The exhibition tells Ginsburg’s story using a dynamic array of gallery interactives, listening stations, historical artifacts, and contemporary art.
Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg is organized and circulated by the Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, California.
* US Rep. Dan Lipinski…
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a trailblazer and a giant of the Supreme Court who had a tremendous impact on our country. Before we begin the political talk about her replacement, we should remember her life and her legacy. Part of this legacy that is especially important to remember in this time of ideological vitriol was her friendship with the late conservative Justice Antonin Scalia. The two justices disagreed strongly in their opinions yet maintained a friendship throughout their time on the court. Our nation should learn from these two late justices the way to live together in spite of differing beliefs. My thoughts and prayers are with the Ginsburg family during this difficult time.
* Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton…
Tonight, when I learned of the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, I felt a profound and deep sadness. This feeling is not only for the grief that her loving family must bear, but because of the devastating loss to our nation, and to women everywhere. Ruth Bader Ginsburg possessed a great legal mind and she used it to advocate for the rights of women and to be a voice for the underserved.
For women, the path to a law degree has extra hurdles. I am sorry to say that sexism is still prevalent in our society where women and men are not equally paid, and little girls are not always told to dream big. But Ruth Bader Ginsburg achieved and dreamed big for herself, and for all women. As a young black woman lawyer, Bader Ginsburg was one of my role models. I admired her intellect, her fearlessness to speak openly about issues, and her tenacity in court. She made it clear that it is the right and duty of every woman to be her best, and to expect equity, and to fight for herself and others, if she does not get it.
Bader Ginsburg once said, “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.” Those words guided me to bring my full self into rooms, and to sit at tables with the clarity that I’m there for a reason and must be boldly and courageously me.
Now Bader Ginsburg is gone, but her ideals and her example will live on. In her memory, we must fight for justice, equity and inclusion for all women, regardless of race, class or religion. In this 100th anniversary year of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, women should flock to the polls to vote for transparency, integrity, and leadership in the White House. It’s the right thing to do. It’s the Bader Ginsburg thing to do.
* Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx…
Our nation lost a legal powerhouse this weekend. Justice Ginsburg leaves behind a legacy of grace, principles and perseverance—to say she will be missed is an incredible understatement.
Through her position on our highest court Justice Ginsburg never wavered from her driving force to use one’s power in law to ensure social equity. She believed in justice and fairness for every American regardless of their race, gender, country of origin, sexual orientation and religion.
A true force in law, Justice Ginsburg turned a century-and-half policy on its head at Virginia Military Institute, finally granting women the right to attend this state-funded school. She believed a woman—not the government—should be able to choose how to approach her body, including having the right to have an abortion. As a result of Justice Ginsburg’s voice on the groundbreaking Lilly Ledbetter case, workers today can now sue their employers when discriminated against and paid less based on gender. These few examples of her heft and social activism affect life for each of us today as we know it—our country is better because of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s pioneering ways as a woman in law.
While some might argue the law is not a place for social activism, Ginsburg didn’t listen to this noise, always rising above the critics to bring justice and equality for the American people. Simply put: Justice Ginsburg unapologetically changed the course of our history.
A honorable woman, Justice Ginsburg carried her strength and fight for the American people until her very end. May she rest in power.
* Michael Madigan, in his role as DPI Chairman…
We have lost a giant – of the court, of truth and justice and of America. There is no replacement for Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She represents the best of us, and fought her entire life for human rights, gender rights and equality for all. An unmatched icon, Ruth Bader Ginsburg shouldered intense burdens and historic decisions with grace and integrity. She meant so much to so many. May she rest in peace and may her legacy carry on as the rest of us pick up the fight with her same passion and fervor. My thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, colleagues and our entire nation.
I did not include tweets and fundraising emails.
…Adding… Senate President Don Harmon…
The passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is an enormous blow to the millions of women and men in Illinois she spent her entire life fighting to ensure are equal under the law. While her legacy and place in history are secure, the issues she championed are under assault.
Healthcare is on the ballot in 2020 with devastating consequences now that we know Donald Trump and Republicans will strip away protections for those with preexisting conditions through the Supreme Court.
In the middle of a global pandemic made exponentially worse by Donald Trump’s failed response, Republicans have denied science to keep Illinois families safe, aid to those in need, and now they are marching forward to deny people healthcare. It is abhorrent that Republicans in Illinois support ending protections for preexisting conditions - especially those potentially resulting from COVID-19 infections - while 700,000 Illinoisians are out of work and at least 275,000 have been infected by this terrible disease.
Make no mistake, Democrats in Illinois will not let this stand. We will fight tooth and nail against Donald Trump, Republicans, and the corporate special interests that back their crusade to overturn Obamacare and kick millions of people off the healthcare rolls.
This moment underscores the stakes of this election now more than ever. We will make sure the voters of Illinois know how important their vote is this November 3rd.
…Adding… Comptroller Susana Mendoza…
I was heartbroken to hear Friday that my all-time Shero, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the “Notorious RBG” left us too soon at 87, while she was still such a force for good and for equality, writing opinions to uphold our rights. This tiny woman was such a massive, brilliant, powerful voice for disenfranchised communities, upholding rights to health care, marriage equality, fair treatment for Dreamers and so much more. In both her legal and judicial career, she opened so many pathways for people like me. Women across the United States and frankly the American people as a whole owe her a debt of gratitude for everything she made possible for us. Ruth Bader Ginsburg represented the very best of America. She made our country better. We will never have another Supreme Court justice quite like her. As our country mourns, may she rest in peace.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 21, 20 @ 9:04 am
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Fundraising emails? Gross.
Comment by Just Me 2 Monday, Sep 21, 20 @ 9:30 am
I got home after 7, and they were talking about this on Washington Week on PBS.
I grabbed my phone and frantically clicked my email, which already had a story about this.
All I could do was shake my head and say, “Oh Ruthie.”
Saying what I think of Mitch Mcconnell and his conduct since Friday night will get me banned from here for life.
Comment by Lynn S. Monday, Sep 21, 20 @ 9:35 am
Since Senator Durbin injected politics into his statement. “There’s nothing in the Constitution that says the president stops being president in his last year.”
Ruth Bader Ginsburg 2016
Comment by I_feel_strongly_both_ways Monday, Sep 21, 20 @ 9:38 am
That’s a nice commenoratrion from the Thomas More Society. All weekend long I saw pro-lifers on social media trashing RBG as some sort of mass murderer, simply because she believed in a woman’s right to choose. One awful person even compared her to Hitler. It’s nice to see the Thomas More society rise above that.
Comment by Nick Name Monday, Sep 21, 20 @ 9:48 am
She was also a firm believer in the Supreme Court having only 9 justices.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Sep 21, 20 @ 9:53 am
On the passing of Justice Ginsburg, and her legacy, Presidential Historian Jon Meacham said, “Justice Ginsburg represented the best of the American tradition, the best of a devotion to the American experiment … She believed in the journey toward a more perfect union.”
Tough to add more unless you plan to spend hours upon hours of her imprint on not only the law but on society.
Well stated and profoundly honest to legacy, the Thomas More Society’s release is one of note.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 21, 20 @ 10:11 am
I wouldn’t want to be the justice to follow in her footsteps. Clarence Thomas replacing Thurgood Marshall comes to mind.
Comment by Jocko Monday, Sep 21, 20 @ 10:19 am
It’s sad (although not surprising) that her replacement has become a political battle before anyone had a chance to properly honor her memory and let her be laid to rest. Thank you for your thoughtful, honorable service Justice Ginsburg, rest in peace.
Comment by Watching Monday, Sep 21, 20 @ 10:32 am
===She was also a firm believer in the Supreme Court having only 9 justices.==
First of all, let’s get a cite on that. But irrespective of that, I was too until a certain Senate Majority leader denied one President a nomination in an election year and then, MERE HOURS AFTER HER DEATH, announced that the Senate will vote on her replacement nominated by a President less than 45 days before the election.
I mean, Jesus, they couldn’t even wait for the funeral to dance on her grave
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Sep 21, 20 @ 10:34 am
If you are a younger person, look closely at the work of RBG before her service on the Supreme Court, before she became the notorious RBG. That work will help you understand the situation of women in the years before so many changes that you now take for granted, reproductive, credit and more. She not only argued multiple times before the USSupreme Court, but was the founding director of the ACLU Women’s Rights Project. Her death is not just about her. It is about all that women have had to fight for for just the last 55 years. Why 55 years? Because in 1965 a court case was decided that allowed tor the purchase and use of contraceptives. That blows my mind. And that is why the fight against some past thinking person to replace her is so important.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Sep 21, 20 @ 10:40 am
In the 2016 campaign, Ginsburg faced a backlash for being critical of candidate Donald Trump. This time around, she saved her criticism for Democratic presidential candidates, who have floated the idea of or been open to packing the court with more justices to dilute the current power of the new conservative majority.
“There is no fixed number in the Constitution. So this court has had as few as 5 as many as 10. Nine seems to be a good number and it’s been that way for a long time.”
“I have heard that there are some people on the Democratic side who would like to increase the number of judges. I think that was a bad idea” when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt tried it, and reiterated, “I am not at all in favor of that solution.”
https://www.npr.org/about-npr/744876372/npr-interview-with-justice-ginsburg-i-m-still-very-much-alive
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Sep 21, 20 @ 10:47 am
===It’s sad (although not surprising) that her replacement has become a political battle before anyone had a chance to properly honor her memory and let her be laid to rest===
Waging this political battle is the very essence of honoring her memory. Unless you think her replacement won’t vote to strip away all of the rights for which RBG so fiercely fought.
“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Sep 21, 20 @ 10:58 am
Her appointment was one of the few things Bill Clinton got right.
Comment by Beecher Monday, Sep 21, 20 @ 11:24 am
“I was too until a certain Senate Majority leader denied one President a nomination in an election year”
A previous Senate Majority Leader went “nuclear” and changed the rules to benefit his party. The pendulum swung like the R’s warned and the D’s don’t have a check to balance now (60 votes and this issue would be mute).
3 appellate court justices were more important to them than 3 supreme court justices. The moderates on both sides lost and the extreme partisans on both sides continue to win.
Comment by 1st Ward Monday, Sep 21, 20 @ 11:48 am
RBG is my greatest hero, and my admiration for her is deep. RIP you brilliant, determined woman.
Comment by RIJ Monday, Sep 21, 20 @ 12:05 pm
==1st Ward== Harry Reid did invoke the “nuclear option”. But it didn’t start with him. In 2005, GOP Majority Leader Bill Frist threatened its use to end Democratic-led filibusters of judicial nominees submitted by President George W. Bush. The GOP started this. Was only a matter of time before it came to pass. Both could reverse it. Neither will. The Senate will never be what it was again unless the filibuster is put in the constitution.
Comment by Anotheretiree Monday, Sep 21, 20 @ 12:29 pm
===A previous Senate Majority Leader…===
never denied a president a nomination to the Supreme Court.
Fixed it for you and your whataboutism
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Sep 21, 20 @ 12:51 pm
There’s something poetic about the GOP ignoring the final wishes of a woman.
Comment by Woof Monday, Sep 21, 20 @ 2:01 pm
Her seat will be filled before November as it should be.
Comment by A voter Monday, Sep 21, 20 @ 7:30 pm