Ruth Bader Ginsburg Misses Court: What Illness Is The Supreme Court Judge Receiving Treatment For?

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was absent Wednesday from the Supreme Court, missing oral arguments for several cases.

Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed that Ginsburg was out on account of an illness. A representative for the court said the Justice was at home, working through a stomach virus and would read briefs for the missed oral arguments.

Ginsburg, 86, is the oldest Justice currently serving on the Supreme Court and has a significant history of medical issues. She is a four-time cancer survivor, having most recently successfully received treatment for a pancreatic tumor in August. In December, she had surgery to remove two cancerous nodules from her lungs and missed three days.

Prior to those treatments, Ginsburg was treated for pancreatic cancer in 2009. Her first diagnosis came in 1999 for colon cancer, for which she underwent a successful surgery to treat.

Ginsburg is considered part of the liberal wing of the Supreme Court. The court currently leans in favor of conservatives with a 5-4 breakdown. As such, the topic of her heath is one that is of great concern to liberal voters.

Ginsburg was most recently present on Tuesday to hear arguments related to President Trump’s plan to end the DACA program for the children of undocumented immigrants. The Justices will next meet behind closed doors on Friday and will not meet to hear arguments again until Dec. 2.