Swain, Pintor Marin & Quijano Resolution Honoring Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Urging U.S. Senate to Wait to Replace Her Seat Passes Full Assembly

(TRENTON) – The recent death of United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has sent the nation into mourning and stirred up fierce debate regarding when her replacement should be confirmed. In response, three Assemblywomen have sponsored a resolution to honor her life’s work and urge the U.S. Senate to refrain from voting on any replacement candidates until after the November 3 election.

The resolution (AR-189) recognizes Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s advocacy for gender equality and her powerful dissenting opinions while serving on the Supreme Court for nearly three decades. It also lauds her important contributions on behalf of women’s rights before her appointment to the court.

The measure concludes by respectfully urging members of the Senate to refrain from holding a vote on President Trump’s Supreme Court candidate until after the November 3 election and to wait until after the new president takes office if Mr. Trump is not re-elected.

After passing the Assembly by a vote of 52-5-13 on Thursday, the resolution will now be transmitted to every member of the U.S. Senate and each of New Jersey’s representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Upon its passage, Assembly sponsors Lisa Swain (D-Bergen, Passaic), Eliana Pintor Marin (D-Essex) and Annette Quijano (D-Union) issued the following joint statement:

“As a steadfast advocate for gender equality and the second woman to ever serve on the Supreme Court, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a true inspiration to women.

“Before she made her impact on America’s laws as a member of the highest court in the land, she served as a professor – passing along her knowledge and wisdom to students at both Rutgers University and Columbia Law Schools. As a young attorney, she launched a Women’s Rights Project and won five out of six women’s rights cases she argued before the Supreme Court in the span of just three years.

“Her unwavering support for equal rights improved the lives of millions of women and earned her the respect of both her colleagues and the many citizens who looked up to her.

“We urge the Senate to honor her dying wish that she not be replaced until a new president is installed, and follow the very precedent they set just four years ago when they refused to consider a replacement for Justice Antonin Scalia during an election year, by waiting until this upcoming election has ended and honoring its results.

“The next justice to sit on the United States Supreme Court should be the nominee of whichever leader is elected by the American people this November.”