A hearse carrying the casket of the late Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg arrives at the U.S. Capitol, where her body will lie in state in Statuary Hall in Washington, U.S., September 25, 2020.
Joshua Roberts | Reuters
The late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday made history once more as the first woman and first Jewish person to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol.
The honor is considered one of the nation’s highest distinctions for government and military leaders. A pioneering champion of gender equality, Ginsburg was the second female to serve on the nation’s highest court and the leader of its liberal wing. She died last Friday at age 87 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Read more: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dies at age 87
On Wednesday and Thursday, Ginsburg had lain in repose at the top of the Supreme Court’s front steps.
Friday’s ceremony, spearheaded by Democratic leader Speaker Nancy Pelosi, included a small circle of invited members of Congress and Ginsburg’s family. Democratic nominee Joe Biden and running mate Sen. Kamala Harris were among those in attendance.
Notably absent from the Capitol service were top congressional Republicans Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
Following the services, a private interment ceremony will be held next week at Arlington National Cemetery, where her husband, Martin, was buried in 2010.
As the nation remembers the late justice, a contentious political struggle continues, with Republicans racing to fill the empty Supreme Court seat before the 2020 election. President Donald Trump plans to announce his nominee on Saturday.
A joint services military honor guard carries the casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
The flag-draped casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is carried by a joint services military honor guard to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, U.S., September 25, 2020.
Alex Brandon | Reuters
Ginsburg’s casket is carried up the steps of the U.S. Capitol
The casket of the late Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is carried as it arrives at the U.S. Capitol, where it will lie in state in Statuary Hall in Washington, U.S., September 25, 2020.
Joshua Robert | Reuters
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer watch as Ginsburg’s casket arrives
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) wipes her eyes as she and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and the Ginsburg family watch the casket of the late Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg arrive at the U.S. Capitol, where it will lie in state in Statuary Hall in Washington, U.S., September 25, 2020.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
The casket is carried through the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol
The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is carried through the U.S. Capitol rotunda to lie in state in Washington, U.S., September 25, 2020.
Caroline Brehman | Reuters
The military honor guard arrives at the National Statuary Hall at the Capitol
U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s flag-draped casket is carried to lie in state in Statuary Hall at the Capitol, Washington, U.S. on September 25, 2020.
Chip Somodevilla | Reuters
Ginsburg becomes the first woman and the first Jewish person to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol
Members of Congress and guests pay their respects to the late Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as her casket lies in state during a memorial service in her honor in the Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, DC, U.S., September 25, 2020.
Olivier Douliery | Reuters
Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt speaks during a ceremony for Ginsburg
Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt speaks during a ceremony where U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s flag-draped casket lies in state in Statuary Hall at the Capitol, Washington, U.S. on September 25, 2020.
Greg Nash | Reuters
Opera singer Denyce Graves sings during the ceremony
Denyce Graves sings during a ceremony where U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s flag-draped casket lies in state in Statuary Hall at the Capitol, Washington, U.S. on September 25, 2020.
Chip Somodevilla | Reuters
Pelosi speaks during the ceremony
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) speaks during a ceremony where U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s flag-draped casket lies in state in Statuary Hall at the Capitol, Washington, U.S. on September 25, 2020.
Greg Nash | Reuters
Members of Congress and guests pay their respects
Members of Congress and guests pay their respects to the late Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as her casket lies in state during a memorial service in her honor in the Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, DC, U.S., September 25, 2020.
Olivier Douliery | Reuters
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, pay their respects
U.S. Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden pay their respects at a ceremony at the Capitol, Washington, U.S. on September 25, 2020.
POOL | REUTERS
R.I.P., RBG
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in state in Statuary Hall of the Capitol in Washington, DC., U.S., September 25, 2020.
Erin Schaff | Reuters
Female legislators look on from the steps fo the U.S. Capitol
Female legislators look on as the casket of the late Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is carried following ceremonies honoring Ginsburg at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., September 25, 2020.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
The casket passes Speaker Pelosi
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) looks on as the casket of the late Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is carried following ceremonies honoring Ginsburg at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., September 25, 2020.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
The casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is placed in a hearse by a joint services military honor guard
The flag-draped casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is placed in a hearse by a joint services military honor guard after Ginsburg lied in state at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, U.S. September 25, 2020.
Alex Brandon | Reuters
A U.S. Capitol police officer salutes the hearse carrying Ginsburg
A U.S. Capitol police officer wears a protective mask while saluting as the hearse carrying the casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg departs after lying in state in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Friday, Sept. 25, 2020.
Jonathan Ernst | Bloomberg | Getty Images