Idaho officials shared their condolences following the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Friday night and issued a flag at half-staff directive.
Justice Ginsburg died of cancer at the age of 87 years old. According to the Supreme Court Spokeswoman, Bader died this evening, surrounded by her family at her home in Washington D.C. due to complications of metastatic pancreas cancer.
In honor of her, the Officer of the Governor issued an advisory to fly flags at half-staff beginning immediately and until a burial ceremony.
U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said in a statement he admired her courage and sends his condolences.
“Justice Ginsburg was a stalwart leader on the issues and causes important to her," Crapo said in a statement. "While I did not agree with some of her opinions on matters of legal doctrine, I respect her courage to hold steadfast to her beliefs. Prior to her service on the Supreme Court, her work with Idaho-based attorney Allen Derr helped overturn laws allowing discrimination on the basis of sex. She fought a hard fight against cancer, and her legacy will continue for many more generations. At this time of grief and sadness, I offer my condolences and deepest sympathies to her family, friends and loved ones.”
Gov. Brad Little said in a Tweet posted Friday evening he sends his sympathy to her family and reflected on Justice Ginsburg's local impacts.
Teresa and I send our sympathy to the family of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In addition to her historic role on the Supreme Court, as an attorney she advanced women’s rights by successfully partnering with Boise attorney Allen Derr in an Idaho case
— Brad Little (@GovernorLittle) September 19, 2020
Boise Mayor Lauren McLean called Justice Ginsburg a 'trailblazer' in a tweet Friday night.
1/2 Tonight we lost a trailblazer who dedicated her life to protecting our rights and the promise of this nation. My heart is heavy, as are many, with the loss of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
— Mayor McLean (@boisemayor) September 19, 2020
U.S. Senator James Risch (R-Idaho) issued a statement the morning of Saturday, Sept. 19, though he and Justice Ginsburg disagreed politically, he "admired her commitment to public service."
"Vicki’s and my thoughts and prayers go out to Justice [Ginsburg]’s family. I did not know her well but I admired her commitment to public service and intellect, though I disagreed with her politically. I did, however, know her friend Justice Scalia well, and one day, while fishing with him in Idaho, we had occasion to talk about his friendship with Justice [Ginsburg], given his profound opposite view on almost all issues. He said plainly that they were friends because they treated each other with dignity, respect, and kindness. All of us could build a lasting memorial to these two remarkable people by abandoning the hate, animosity, and vitriol so prevalent in politics today, and turn instead to treating everyone with dignity, respect, and kindness, making the world a better place."
