Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Joe Biden says replacement must be picked by winner of presidential election

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Joe Biden has said the replacement for Ruth Bader Ginsburg should be appointed by the winner of the presidential election.

“There is no doubt – let me be clear – that the voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider,” Mr  Biden told reporters at an airport in New Castle, Delaware, after learning of the justice’s death.

His comments underscored the partisan fight all but certain over the future of the judiciary that could dominate the fewer than seven weeks remaining until the presidential election.

Ms Ginsburg, a stalwart liberal on the Supreme Court since 1993, died on Friday at age 87, giving Donald Trump a narrow window in which to expand the court's conservative majority with a third appointment during a tough re-election fight.

Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell said he intends to act on any nomination Trump makes. Biden's comments signal he and the party will fight such a move.

The Democratic former vice president learned of Ms Ginsburg's death while flying home from a campaign trip in Minnesota and he delivered brief remarks to reporters.

“Ruth Bader Ginsburg stood for all of us,” Mr Biden said. “She has been absolutely consistent and reliable and a voice for freedom and opportunity for everyone.”

Additional reporting by Reuters