Ginsburg supreme court and trump

Ginsburg was the second woman to sit on the Supreme Court. The death of liberal judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the age of 87 has raised questions over the future direction of the US Supreme Court. Ginsburg, a prominent feminist and key liberal voice, served on the court for 27 years. Each of the nine judges - known as justices - serves a lifetime appointment after being nominated by the president and approved by the Senate.

But with just six weeks until the 3 November presidential election between incumbent President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee and former Vice-President Joe Biden, a Supreme Court vacancy adds another controversial turn to an already fiercely contested campaign. Vicious court fight could upend US election. Who are the current justices?

The US Supreme Court reshaped under

Meet the Supremes. How has Trump's Supreme Court changed America? So what is the Supreme Court and who will pick Ginsburg's successor? The highest court in the US is often the final word on highly contentious laws, disputes between states and the federal government, and final appeals to stay executions. It hears fewer than cases a year and the key announcements are made in June.

Cases are usually brought to the court after they are appealed from a series of lower courts, although in time-sensitive cases, lawyers can petition for a hearing. The court's opinions can also create precedents, directing other judges to follow their interpretation in similar cases. In recent years, the court has expanded gay marriage to all 50 states, allowed for President Donald Trump's travel ban to be put in place and delayed a US plan to cut carbon emissions while appeals went forward.