Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a prominent liberal who at 85 is the oldest US Supreme Court justice, has been hospitalised after falling in her office at the court the night before, fracturing three ribs, a court spokeswoman says.
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Ginsburg initially went home after the fall on Wednesday, but experienced discomfort overnight and went to George Washington University Hospital on Thursday morning, court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said in a statement.
Tests showed she fractured three ribs on her left side and she was admitted for observation and treatment, Arberg added. The court is not scheduled to hear its next arguments in cases until November 26.
Ginsburg, who has served on the court since 1993, is one of the court's four liberals. The court's 5-4 conservative majority was restored last month when the US Senate confirmed Republican President Donald Trump's appointee Brett Kavanaugh after a contentious nomination process in which Kavanaugh denied a sexual assault allegation dating to the 1980s.
If Ginsburg were unable to continue serving on the court, Trump would likely move swiftly to replace her with a conservative, further shifting the court to the right. That would have major consequences for issues including abortion, the death penalty, voting rights, gay rights, business litigation and presidential powers.
As the oldest justice, Ginsburg is closely watched for any signs of deteriorating health. She has survived bouts with cancer and undergoes regular medical checkups. This week's incident was not the first time Ginsburg has suffered an injury as a result of a fall - in June 2012, she fell at home and cracked two ribs.
Trump went to the court on Thursday for a formal ceremony welcoming Kavanaugh to the nation's highest court. Kavanaugh was sworn in to the lifetime job last month.
The president sat along with first lady Melania Trump at the front of the marble-walled courtroom near the justices' mahogany bench, and made no public remarks. Some leading Republicans from the US Congress, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, attended.
Australian Associated Press
