Decryption: how the disappearance of Ruth Bader Ginsburg upsets the American presidential election!

The disappearance of feminist and progressive icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg , at the age of 87, on September 18, leaves a vacant seat as a judge on the Supreme Court of the United States and launches the battle for her succession. To the point of upsetting the American presidential election? Analysis by Marie-Cécile Naves*, research director at Iris.

MARIE-CECILE NAVES. The Supreme Court has significant powers on societal issues, be it the rights of women, LGBTQ people, health reform, the carrying of arms… Until now, the institution had five conservative judges and four progressive. The President of the Court being a conservative who does not vote according to his ideology, there was a certain balance. The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg challenges this balance. A judge is appointed for life by the president and this decision must be validated by the Senate. Hence the current urgency. His succession becomes a campaign argument. To be re-elected, Donald Trump must give pledges to the evangelical and Catholic right. Result: we no longer talk about Covid-19, the climate or the economic crisis, this succession focuses attention.