WASHINGTON: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, at 87 the US Supreme Court’s oldest member, said on Friday she is receiving chemotherapy treatment for a recurrence of cancer — the latest in a series of health issues — but indicated no intention to retire.

In a statement released by the court, Ginsburg said that a periodic scan in February, followed by a biopsy, revealed lesions on her liver. She said she is tolerating the chemotherapy treatment well and that it is yielding positive results. She said she began her chemotherapy on May 19.

“I have often said I would remain a member of the Court as long as I can do the job full steam. I remain fully able to do that,” Ginsburg said.

The health of Ginsburg, the court’s senior liberal member, is closely watched because a Supreme Court vacancy could give Republican President Donald Trump the opportunity to appoint a third justice to the nine-member court and move it further to the right. The court currently has a 5-4 conservative majority including two justices appointed by Trump — Brett Kavanaugh in 2018 and Neil Gorsuch in 2017.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2020