Female members of Congress stand on the steps of the U.S. Capitol as the flag-draped casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is carried by a joint services military honor guard after Ginsburg lied in state at the U.S. Capitol on September 25. Pool Photo by Alex Brandon/UPI
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi looks on as the casket of Ginsburg is carried. Pool photo by Jonathan Ernst/UPI
The flag-draped casket of Ginsburg leaves the Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Pool Photo by Oliver Douliery/UPI
Members of the U.S. Capitol Police salute Ginsburg. Pool Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI
Ginsburg is the first woman to lie in state in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol. Pool Photo by Shawn Thew/UPI
Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden (R) and his wife Jill Biden pay their respects to Ginsburg. Pool Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI
Sen. Tammy Duckworth pays her respects. Pool Photo by Oliver Doulier/UPI
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks during a ceremony to honor Ginsburg as she lies in state. Pool Photo by Greg Nash/UPI
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in state during a ceremony to honor her memory. Pool Photo by Greg Nash/UPI
The casket of Ginsburg is carried through the U.S. Capitol rotunda to lie in state. Pool Photo by Sarah Silbiger/UPI
The flag-draped casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is carried by a joint services military honor guard to be the first woman to lie in state. Pool Photo by Alex Brandon/UPI
From left to right, Sens. Kamala Harris of California, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York arrive for a ceremony for Ginsburg at the U.S. Capitol. Pool Photo by Erin Schaff/UPI
Mourners pay their respects as Ginsburg lies in repose on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on September 24. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI..
A young girl sits at the steps of the Supreme Court as Ginsburg lies in repose. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
A picture of Ginsburg is placed near the Supreme Court as mourners pay their respects. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI..
A mourner wears an RBG face mask while standing in line to pay respects. Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI
Mourners line up to pay their respects. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
Bromwyn Sells of Sarasota, Fla., stands for a portrait as she pays respect to Ginsburg. Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI
A mourner wipes a tear. Pool Photo by Andrew Harnik/UPI
A woman and children wear collars similar to Ginsburg's at the Supreme Court. Pool Photo by Andrew Harnik/UPI
President Donald Trump (L) visits the court to pay respects to Ginsburg. He is planning to nominate someone to replace her on the high court in the coming days. Pool Photo by Alex Brandon/UPI
Trump wears a mask as he pays respects to Ginsburg. Pool Photo by Alex Brandon/UPI
Mourners pay respects as Ginsburg lies in repose. Pool Photo by Andrew Harnik/UPI
Mourners file past Ginsburg's casket at the Supreme Court. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
Mourners gather to pay their respects as Ginsburg lies in repose. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI
A child in a Supergirl costume salutes the casket of Ginsburg. Pool Photo by Alex Brandon/UPI
A mourner makes the sign language symbol for "I love you." Pool Photo by Andrew Harnik/UPI
The public viewing will be allowed until 10 p.m. Thursday. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
A visitor holding a phone case with an image of Ginsburg pays respects outside the court. Pool Photo by Alex Brandon/UPI
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (L), D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., pay respects at the Supreme Court. Pool Photo by Alex Brandon/UPI
Former President Bill Clinton pays respects. Clinton appointed Ginsburg to the Supreme Court in 1993. Pool Photo by Alex Brandon/UPI
Visitors pay respects at the Supreme Court. Pool Photo by Alex Brandon/UPI
Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence pay respects as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in repose under the portico at the top of the front steps of the U.S. Supreme Court on September 23. Pool Photo by Alex Brandon/UPI
Left to right,, Justice Neil Gorsuch, Justice Stephen Breyer and his wife Joanna, Retired Justice Anthony Kennedy, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and Maureen Scalia, the wife of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, attend a private ceremony for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Pool Photo by Andrew Harnik/UPI
Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt speaks during a private memorial at the Supreme Court. Pool Photo by Andrew Harnik/UPI
Invited guests attend the private ceremony. Pool Photo by Andrew Harnik/UPI
Ginsburg's flag-draped casket arrives at the Supreme Court. Pool Photo by Andrew Harnik/UPI
David Reines, husband of NPR Supreme Court reporter Nina Totenberg, wears a face mask with depictions of Ginsburg on it during a private memorial. Pool Photo by Andrew Harnik/UPI
Ginsburg's casket, carried by Supreme Court police officers, arrives in the Great Hall at the Supreme Court. Pool Photo by Andrew Harnik/UPI
The casket is carried into the Supreme Court to lie in repose. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
The casket arrives at the Supreme Court. Pool Photo by Alex Brandon/UPI
Ginsburg's former law clerks stand on the steps of the Supreme Court as they await the arrival of the casket. Pool photo by Alex Brandon/UPI
Mourners bring flowers to the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI
President Donald Trump is meeting with his top five women candidates to fill the Supreme Court vacancy, despite Ginsburg's wish for the next president to fill her seat. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI
A woman and child pay their respects for Ginsburg at the United States Supreme Court. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI
Mourners light candles in honor of Ginsburg at the Supreme Court. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
Mourners participate in a candlelight vigil at the Supreme Court on September 19. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
A mourner holds a candle near a poster of Ginsburg during a vigil. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
"Our nation has lost a jurist of historic stature," Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. said. "We at the Supreme Court have lost a cherished colleague." Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI
Mourners write messages thanking Ginsburg for her influence. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI
Ginsburg died at 87 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI
Ginsburg suffered multiple bouts of cancer and other illnesses in recent years. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI
Trump ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in her honor. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI
Ginsburg was known for wearing a "dissenting collar" when she disapproved of a ruling, which became a feminist symbol in pop culture. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI
Ginsburg was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August 2019. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI
Ginsburg is survived by two children and several grandchildren. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI
Ginsburg earned the moniker "Notorious RBG" from her supporters, a play on the stage name of the rapper Notorious B.I.G. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI
Rosio Marin (L) and a friend pay their respects to the justice. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI
Candles spel out "rbg," as people pay their respects to Ginsburg. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI
Ginsburg voted in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage in 2015. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI
A couple recite a mourner's prayer in Hebrew as they pay their respects for Ginsburg, who died on Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI
A man holds up a sign reading "RBG HERO" as thousands pay their respects. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI
Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Sen. Ted Cruz on Wednesday blocked a resolution honoring the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg after rejecting language regarding the selection of her successor.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer attempted to pass the resolution commemorating the life and legacy of Ginsburg by unanimous consent, but Cruz, R-Texas, opposed the measure citing language that her seat not be filled until the next president is inaugurated.
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"Republicans came to us with this resolution, but ignored Justice Ginsburg's dying wish, what she called her most 'fervent wish' that she not be replaced until a new president is installed," said Schumer, citing a message relayed by Ginsburg's granddaughter following her death on Friday. "So we simply have added it to the exact same text of the resolution the Republicans gave us."
President Donald Trump said he will announce a nominee to replace Ginsburg by the end of the week and said a confirmation vote in the Senate should be taken before the election on Nov. 3.
Cruz rejected the language in the resolution, accusing Schumer of attempting to turn the bipartisan resolution into a partisan measure.
"Under the Constitution, members of the judiciary do not appoint their own successors," said Cruz. "She led an extraordinary life. She was one of the finest Supreme Court litigators to have ever practiced. Justice Ginsburg understood full well that the position being put forth by the Democratic leader is not the law and is not the constitution."
He requested that Schumer remove the language and take up a resolution that includes Ginsburg saying she opposed increasing the number of justices beyond the nine currently serving.
"I believe Justice Ginsburg would easily see through the legal sophistry of the argument of the junior senator from Texas. To turn Justice Ginsburg's dying words against her is so, so beneath the dignity of this body," Schumer said in response.