Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg says it is foolish to suggest she resign now, because there is no way President Obama could appoint a like-minded replacement.
Some on the left have called on the 81-year-old Ginsburg to retire soon in case a Republican wins the White House in 2016 and installs a conservative in her place. Yet in an interview with Elle, Ginsburg retorts that even if Obama wanted to replace her with a liberal Justice, Senate Republicans would assuredly block such a nominee.
Who do you think President Obama could appoint at this very day, given the boundaries that we have? If I resign any time this year, he could not successfully appoint anyone I would like to see in the court. [The Senate Republicans] took off the filibuster for lower federal court appointments, but it remains for this court. So anybody who thinks that if I step down, Obama could appoint someone like me, they're misguided. [Elle]
Ginsburg adds that as long as she can "do the job full steam" she plans to stick around.