Updated 4:23 p.m. By Robert Barnes Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was hospitalized overnight and released Thursday morning because of an adverse reaction to the combination of a prescription sleeping aid and over-the-counter cold medication, the Supreme Court public information office announced. It is the second time in less than a month that the 76-year-old Ginsburg has been hospitalized, although for different reasons. She spent the night at Washington Hospital Center on Sept. 24 after she fell ill from receiving an intravenous treatment for anemia. The court said Ginsburg became extremely drowsy after taking the combination of medicines, and she fell from her seat before takeoff on an overnight flight to London. Paramedics took Ginsburg from the plane to the hospital around 11:15 p.m. Justice Stephen G. Breyer was with Ginsburg at the time and left the plane with her. They were two of four justices bound for London to celebrate
People line up outside the Supreme Court in Washington for the start of the new session. (Evan Vucci/Associated Press) By John Amick The Supreme Court began a new term today, beginning with a case pertaining to how long a suspect's right to a lawyer is valid. The court will hear 55 cases this term. Thousands of cases were refused by the court last week. The Associated Press on some of these cases: High Court Won't Review Oil Royalties Case Court Refuses to Get Involved in Church Dispute Court Turns Down Former Prosecutor in Libel Case Court Nixes Case of Fired Deputy Who Ran vs. Boss Court Won't Block Release of Sex Abuse Papers High Court Refuses to Hear Insider Trading Appeal Court Won't Force Ill. to Have 'Choose Life' License Plate Court Won't Review Fla. Pledge of Allegiance Law High Court Won't Review Death Penalty in Louisiana
Updated 10:18 a.m. By Robert Barnes Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was released from Washington Hospital Center Friday morning after an overnight stay, and she plans to be back at work Friday afternoon, the Supreme Court said in a statement. Ginsburg was admitted to the hospital Thursday after falling ill at the court after receiving an intravenous iron therapy, court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said. Ginsburg felt better after being attended by a physician at the court, Arberg said, but she was taken to the hospital as a precaution. Ginsburg's health has been a concern since the 76-year-old justice was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier this year. In February, doctors removed her spleen and a tiny tumor on her pancreas. Ginsburg said the operation was a complete success, and that she was cancer-free. She underwent what she called a precautionary round of chemotherapy in the spring, but never missed a day of
Associated Press The Supreme Court said Friday that it will release audio tapes soon after Wednesday’s argument in a much-anticipated case, dealing with limits on campaign spending by corporations and labor unions. The case, Citizens United v. FEC, involves a movie made by a conservative group that was harshly critical of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential ambitions. C-SPAN said it expects to air the audio recording soon after the argument concludes, probably around 11:30 a.m. EDT. The same-day release of audio tapes following arguments in major cases started in the 2000 presidential election, when the justices decided appeals of the Florida recount controversy in favor of George W. Bush. The court most recently made same-day audio available after arguments over a key provision of the federal Voting Rights Act in April. The court records arguments and ordinarily releases them at the end of each term. With television cameras barred from the
Updated 5:30 p.m. By Robert Barnes It is tea-leaf reading time at the Supreme Court: Does Justice John Paul Stevens's decision to hire only one clerk for the term that begins in October 2010 mean this could be his last year on the court? Stevens' office confirmed to the Associated Press that Stevens hired only one clerk this summer for the court's 2010-2011 term, rather than his usual contingent of four clerks. The justice's office did not address whether he was considering retiring, or if he would resume hiring clerks at some point. Stevens already has hired all of his clerks for the term that begins Oct. 5. It is unusual for Stevens not to hire all of his clerks at the same time, those who have worked for him say. "Obviously, it's possible that he's thinking about retiring," said Christopher L. Eisgruber, a former Stevens clerk who is now
