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Utah reaction to the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Sep 19, 2020, 3:03 PM
FILE: LONG BEACH, CA - OCTOBER 26: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg attends California first lady Maria Shriver's annual Women's Conference 2010 on October 26, 2010 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY — Utahns are weighing in on the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday at the age of 87.
Justice Ginsburg died at her home of complications from metastatic pancreatic cancer, according to a statement from the court.
One of the first Utah responses came from Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, who spoke of meeting Justice Ginsburg.
Two years ago I had the honor of meeting Justice Ginsburg. She had a brilliant legal mind and was every bit as funny and engaging as advertised. We obviously disagreed on many legal opinions, but honor her legacy as a trailblazer and dedicated public servant. pic.twitter.com/Fz0gEwMxSx
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) September 19, 2020
As a young attorney in the 1970s, Ginsburg argued six cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. She won five. During the 1970s, she was also a volunteer attorney and board member for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
On Friday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah said the occasion of Ginsburg’s death should be a time of reflection.
“Let us take this time to reflect and learn about the remarkable life and accomplishments of this fearless advocate for justice.” #RBG #SCOTUS @aclu #utpol #utleg
– ACLU of Utah pic.twitter.com/0cD49qqutq— ACLU of Utah (@acluutah) September 19, 2020
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall expressed shock upon the death of Justice Ginsburg, calling her a trailblazer:
I’m speechless at the loss of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She was an iconic, trailblazing, intellectual woman. My thoughts are with her family and our nation.
— SLC Mayor Erin Mendenhall (@slcmayor) September 19, 2020
And Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson expressed similar comments, writing, “Justice Ginsburg broke ground and glass ceilings at the same time. She fought for equality and justice and never backed down in the face of opposition.
“She is a hero to me and millions of other women who looked to her as a North Star for her principled leadership. We will miss her more than we realize today, and we should all mourn together for the loss of a great American treasure,” Wilson said.
When Justice Ginsburg was sworn in as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 1993 she became the second female, and the first Jewish female, to attain that position. As such, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes noted Justice Ginsburg’s “historic impact” on the Court.
Utah Senator Mitt Romney highlighted Justice Ginsburg’s friendship with conservative Justice, Antonin Scalia, as an example of reaching across the political aisle and befriending those who may have different views.
And Utah Gov. Gary Herbert noted Ginsburg’s pioneering spirit in his message upon learning of Ginsburg’s death. On Saturday, Gov. Herbert ordered the U.S. and state flags on all state facilities and public grounds to be lowered to half-staff until the day of interment for Justice Ginsburg.
