U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is missing oral arguments for the first time since joining the court as she recuperates from cancer surgery.

The 85-year-old had two cancerous growths removed from her left lung last month in New York.

She was released from the hospital on Christmas Day.

A court spokeswoman says Ginsburg will work from home and will participate in the cases using transcripts and briefs.

As the oldest justice, Ginsburg is closely watched for any signs of deteriorating health.

She was appointed by Democratic President Bill Clinton in 1993 and is the senior liberal member of the court, which currently has a 5-4 conservative majority.

If Ginsburg were unable to continue serving, President Trump could replace her with a conservative, further shifting the court to the right.

This is the first time Ginsburg has missed oral arguments as a result of various health scares.

In 1999, she was treated for colon cancer and again in 2009 for pancreatic cancer but did not miss any cases on the bench either time.