Justice Ruth Bader Gingsburg on Monday made her first public appearance since undergoing lung cancer surgery in December, The Washington Post reported. She was seen at the production of "Notorious RBG in Song" at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. What's interesting is the program was composed by her daughter-in-law and performer, Patrice Michaels.
And, in typical WaPo fashion, the media outlet used the opportunity to blast conservatives:
Ginsburg had not made public appearances since undergoing a pulmonary lobectomy Dec. 21 after doctors discovered cancerous nodules in her left lung. Recovery from such surgery typically takes six to eight weeks, according to medical specialists, and Ginsburg, for the first time since joining the court in 1993, missed a round of oral arguments in January.
Some extreme political right had insisted that the justice's ailments were graver than the Supreme Court has acknowledged, suggesting it would be an ominous sign if she skipped President Trump's State of the Union address Tuesday night.
Actually, it would be more like par for the course. Ginsburg did not attend either of Trump's previous speeches to Congress.
But, at least WaPo made one admission: RBG's State of the Union attendance is based on partisan politics. Gee, what a shocker!
Ginsburg has attended past State of the Union addresses – television cameras have caught her napping at several.
But Ginsburg, who created controversy when Trump was a candidate by calling him a "faker" and expressing distress about the possibility of his election, has not attended Trump's events. She skipped his first speech to Congress in January 2017 and was out of town at a speaking appearance last year, something she accepted before the date was announced.
She has attended White House events for her two newest colleagues nominated by Trump – Justices Neil M. Gorsuch and Brett M. Kavanaugh – and the president tweeted her well wishes for her surgery.
Ginsburg, who was chosen for the court by Clinton, appears to have a more partisan attendance record than most justices.
She did not show for any State of the Union address given by President George W. Bush, whose election was secured by the court's decision in Bush v. Gore. The Bush years in general were a low point for Supreme Court attendance; sometimes, Breyer was the long attendee.
On the other hand, Ginsburg made all of President Barack Obama's speeches. She attended only some of those by Clinton.
Will RBG make an appearance at the State of the Union, if nothing else to show Americans that she's ready and willing to perform her duties as a Supreme Court justice? Only time will tell.