Supreme Court says Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died

The Supreme Court announced on Friday that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has passed away at age 87.

She was the second woman appointed to the Supreme Court and the first Jewish woman to serve on the highest court in the land. She served more than two decades on the Supreme Court.

A statement from the Supreme Court said that she died at home surrounded by her family. She died of complications from metastatic pancreatic cancer.

"Our Nation has lost a jurist of historic stature," Chief Justice John Roberts said in the statement.

"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," he added.

Ginsburg was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1933. She attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and later Harvard Law School before transferring to Columbia Law School. She tied for first in her class when she graduated from Columbia.

Ginsburg was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton in 1993. She was considered to be on the left wing of the court and defended many liberal causes, most especially those relating to women's rights. Abortions rights advocates saw her as a champion of their cause.

She also was a pioneer in using international law to help guide the development of U.S. jurisprudence, something that many conservatives oppose.

"Justice Ginsburg paved the way for so many women, including me. There will never be another like her. Thank you RBG," tweeted Hillary Clinton.

Ginsburg was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1999 and was able to overcome several other bouts with the disease.

A private interment service will be held for her at Arlington National Cemetery.

Here's more about the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg:

Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died at age 87: Reportwww.youtube.com

[This story has been updated with additional information.]