
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 85, fell and cracked three of her ribs Wednesday and went to hospital after experiencing 'discomfort'

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was hospitalized after a fall in her office that led her to fracture three of her ribs, it was announced Thursday.

The 85-year old was admitted 'for observation and treatment' after the Wednesday fall, according to a statement put out by the Supreme Court.

The court says the justice went to George Washington University Hospital in Washington early Thursday after experiencing discomfort overnight. The court says the fall occurred Wednesday evening.

The hospital treatment meant that she was not present as President Trump went to the high court Thursday for the formal swearing in ceremony for Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

He took the First Lady Melania Trump with him for the trip to the opposite end of Pennsylvania Avenue, where the first couple posed with the rest of the Supreme Court bench and Kavanaugh's wife, Ashley.

The inauguration is traditionally attended by all the Supreme Court bench.

Also present Thursday was retired justice Anthony Kennedy, whose seat Kavanaugh is taking and for whom the new justice had been a clerk.

The ceremony, however, did not feature the tradition of the new justice posing on the steps of the court with Chief Justice John Roberts because of security concerns.

Trump's presence underlines his belief that Kavanaugh's confirmation was a huge political boost for him before the midterm elections - despite the firestorm which engulfed the nomination when Kavanaugh was accused of being a rapist.

Missing RBG: President Trump and the first lady pose with the rest of the Supreme Court bench who are from left: Associate Justices Neil Gorsuch, Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen Breyer and Clarence Thomas; Chief Justice John Roberts; and Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh with his wife Ashley; Associate Justices Samuel Alito, and Elena Kagan

With his man: Donald Trump posed with Brett Kavanaugh in the Justices' Conference Room of the Supreme Court

Congratulations: Melania Trump signed a book at the inauguration ceremony for the new associate justice and later tweeted:'Congratulations Justice Kavanaugh. I know you will continue to serve our country with honor'

Honored visitor: Retired Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy - who new justice Brett Kavanaugh had clerked for - also posed (far left) for a photograph in the Justices' Conference room with the First Couple and from left: Associate Justices Neil Gorsuch, Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen Breyer and Clarence Thomas; Chief Justice John Roberts; and Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh with his wife Ashley; Associate Justices Samuel Alito, and Elena Kagan

New intake: Chief Justice John Roberts welcomes Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court at his formal inauguration

The electrifying Senate testimony of both Kavanaugh and the woman who accused him of rape, Christine Blasey Ford, was followed by a divisive Senate vote, with only one red-state Democrat, Joe Manchin, voting for the Trump nominee.

Two other red state Democrats who voted against Kavanaugh - Claire McCaskill and Joe Donnelly - lost their Senate seats in Tuesday's elections and one other, Jon Tester, managed to hang on by the tightest of margins.

However Bader Ginsburg's tumble, and Trump's visit, came amid a new drama: what Democrats have labeled a constitutional crisis Wednesday, after President Donald Trump forced out his attorney general Jeff Sessions, in a move that changed oversight of the Russia probe.

Her fall came on a day Democrats called the beginning of a constitutional crisis as Trump pushed out his attorney general Jeff Sessions.

Ginsburg was admitted to the hospital for treatment and observation after tests showed she fractured three ribs. They are located on her left side.

She broke two ribs in a fall in 2012. She has had two prior bouts with cancer and had a stent implanted to open a blocked artery in 2014.

She has assumed a more prominent place in the public consciousness than typical justices, and is the subject of a new biopic, RBG, which depicts her struggles over women's rights as a young lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union.

On his way to court: Donald and Melania Trump took the Beast from the White House to the home of the third branch of government

Back again: Donald Trump met with Lindsey Graham on the South Lawn of the White House when he returned from the Supreme Court

Ceremony: The Supreme Court was the venue for Brett Kavanaugh's formal inauguration as associate justice

Security: Protesters were a no-show but Brett Kavanaugh but there was a heavy police presence as a precaution

On his way: Donald Trump's motorcade heads for the Supreme Court to mark Brett Kavanaugh's inauguration

Although there is no information that her fall posed a serious long-term medical issue, court-watchers including the president himself have noted that he may get the chance to fill additional vacancies during his term.

Trump has called the confirmation of Justice Neil Gorsuch one of his top accomplishments, and has said the brutal confirmation fight for Brett Kavanaugh motivated the GOP base.

Trump has said he might be able to install multiple conservatives on the court, and the issue of conservative judges have been an important bonding agent between Trump and the Republican Party he has essentially taken over.

Ginsburg is part of the out-voted minority liberal wing on the court. With Kavanaugh's installation, conservatives have been able to assemble what is likely to play out as a 5-4 majority, following the retirement of swing vote Anthony Kennedy.

Trump speculated openly about replacing multiple justices during a South Lawn interview following the Kavanaugh confirmation when asked how many more he might get on the bench.

'A lot of theories on that.It could be three. Under one theory, it could be four. And then some people could say two could happen,' Trump said.

'So, you know, it could anywhere be from, I would say, one or two, to four additional. So we’ll see.'

'You know what? I hope everyone remains healthy. I’m very happy the way it is right now. And we put a great man, and I think going to be a great Justice on the court. But, you know, it’s a guessing game. You don’t know,' Trump said.

She said in July she expects to serve on the court at least five more years, the Washington Post reported.