Ruth Bader Ginsburg undergoes heart surgery

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg underwent a coronary catheterization procedure Wednesday morning to have a stent placed in her right coronary artery, according to a statement from the high court.

Ginsburg, the statement said, "experienced discomfort during routine exercise" Tuesday evening and was then taken to MedStar Washington Hospital Center, where the surgery was performed. Ginsburg is said to be resting and "is expected to be discharged in the next 48 hours.

The 81-year-old Ginsburg, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton, is the oldest justice on the bench and has shown no signs that she's ready to retire. Over the last 15 years, she's also survived bouts with colon cancer and pancreatic cancer.

In an interview with Elle, published in September, Ginsburg was asked whether she'd leave the Supreme Court while Mr. Obama is in office. Ginsburg said "Who do you think President Obama could appoint at this very day, given the boundaries that we have? If I resign any time this year, he could not successfully appoint anyone I would like to see in the court."

Ginsburg went on to say that while senate Democrats had blocked the ability of Republicans to filibuster lower federal court appointments, the threat remains for anyone appointed to the nation's highest court. Ginsburg concluded, "So anybody who thinks that if I step down, Obama could appoint someone like me, they're misguided. As long as I can do the job full steam..., I think I'll recognize when the time comes that I can't any longer. But now I can."