Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is undergoing surgery today for what is reported to be early-stage pancreatic cancer. The New York Times reports that the 5-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is low, due to the difficulties in early detection, but in Ginsburg's case the cancer was discovered early so her prognosis may be more hopeful.
Obama voters no doubt have been waiting for the president to get an opportunity to appoint a justice. If it's Ginsburg he has to replace, however, it's a wash; she is one of the reliably liberal voices on the Court.
Update: Hear NPR court expert Nina Totenberg's report on Ginsburg, including a list of possible replacements if she does not continue on the bench.
This article appears in Feb 4-10, 2009.