US top judge Ruth Ginsburg recovering after cancer surgery
New York: US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has undergone surgery in New York on two malignant nodules on one of her lungs, a statement said.
The nodules were found during tests to diagnose and treat rib fractures she sustained during a fall on November 7, the Supreme Court said in a statement, Efe news reported.
The 85-year-old is the most senior justice in the court’s liberal wing. She was operated on at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Surgeon Valerie Rusch said although the nodules were found to be malignant, there was no evidence of any remaining disease and no further treatment is planned, the statement added.
She was expected to spend a few more days in hospital recuperating.
Ginsburg has previously been treated for colon and pancreatic cancer.
Appointed by then US President Bill Clinton in 1993, she was only the second female justice to be confirmed to the court after a career devoted to feminist causes and civil rights.
She has garnered huge public support, earning her the nickname “Notorious RBG.”
Supporters fear that if Ginsburg leaves the Supreme Court, her replacement will be chosen by President Donald Trump to expand the conservative majority of the highest court in the country.
In a message on Twitter on Friday, Trump wished Ginsburg a “full and speedy recovery”.
During the 2016 US election campaign, Ginsburg described Trump as a “faker”, telling CNN “he has no consistency about him. He says whatever comes into his head at the moment. He really has an ego.” She later apologised for the remarks.
The Supreme Court is composed of nine justices holding lifetime positions. Currently there are five conservatives and four progressives. The justices are appointed by the President and then confirmed by the Senate, where the Republicans have a majority.
Trump has nominated two judges in less than two years.
