Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the 81 year-old Supreme Court Justice, underwent heart surgery on Wednesday, Nov.26.
Ginsburg experienced “discomfort” on Tuesday evening and was taken to MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
A blockage was discovered in Ginsburg’s heart and she had a stent placed in her right coronary artery.
Ginsburg is expected to be ready to leave the hospital within 48 hours.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Court’s oldest member, has been a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court since 1993, and is the second woman supreme court justice. The first was Sandra Day O’Connor.
Ginsburg’s health has been the source of rumors for years. She has twice been diagnosed with cancer, but has rebounded both times.
There were predictions that Ginsburg would retire during President Obama’s second term to ensure the appointment of another liberal jurist. However, the recent elections which gave the Republicans a majority in the Senate – which votes upon supreme court nominees – likely means Ginsburg will not leave unless absolutely required to by her health.
Ginsburg is currently one of three Jewish justices. The other two Jewish supreme court justices are Elena Kagan and Stephen Breyer.