Hailed by many as a star champion of women’s rights, the passing of US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday has left an indelible mark on America’s judicial system.

A statement from the court confirmed that Ginsburg, 87, died at her home on Friday in Washington, DC. 

She had been battling metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Justice Ginsburg was the oldest sitting judge on the Supreme Court, serving 27 years on the nation’s highest court.

Condolences have already begun pouring in over her passing.

“Our Nation has lost a jurist of historic stature,” Chief Justice John Roberts said in a statement on Friday. “We at the Supreme Court have lost a cherished colleague. Today we mourn, but with confidence that future generations will remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as we knew her – a tireless and resolute champion of justice.”

It’s expected her death will trigger a political battle that may cast a shadow on the upcoming November 3rd presidential election, as Republicans try to replace her with a more conservative option. 

Judges that are appointed to serve at the US Supreme Court serve a life sentence, unless they decide to resign.