Justice Ginsburg in hospital with infection, court says

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was hospitalized Tuesday with an infection caused by a gallstone, but plans to take part in the court’s arguments by telephone Wednesday, the Supreme Court said.

The
87-year-old justice underwent non-surgical treatment for what the court
described as acute cholecystitis, a benign gallbladder condition, at
Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

She is resting comfortably and expects to be in the hospital for a day or two, the court said.

Ginsburg
took part in the court’s telephone arguments Monday and Tuesday. She
initially sought medical care Monday, when the gallstone was first
diagnosed.

She has been treated four times for cancer, most recently in August, when she underwent radiation for a tumor on her pancreas.

Her
most recent hospital stay was in November, when she spent two nights at
Johns Hopkins Hospital with a likely infection after suffering from
chills and fever.

The frail-looking liberal icon also bounced back
from lung surgery to remove cancerous growths in December 2018. Her
recovery from that surgery forced her to miss court arguments for the
first time since she became a justice in 1993, appointed by President
Bill Clinton.

She has been doing her usual workout with a personal
trainer at the court, even as the justices have cancelled courtroom
arguments in favor of telephone sessions because of the coronavirus
pandemic.

Ginsburg has said she would like to serve until she’s 90, if her health allows.