Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg became the first Jewish person to lie in state at the United States Capitol, a distinction reserved for the country’s greats.

Family and lawmakers were paying their respects Friday to honour the late justice, whose casket was displayed in Statuary Hall inside the Capitol building. 

The rare honour has been granted only 34 times in the past, including to presidents, military leaders and the civil rights pioneer John R. Lewis, who died earlier this year. 

Justice Ginsburg also became the first woman to lie in state.

Since her death, many tributes have been paid to the jurist born to a Jewish working-class family from Brooklyn who went on to serve on the nation’s highest court for 27 years.

Earlier this week, thousands gathered outside the Supreme Court, where her remains lay in repose for two days. 

A private service will be held next week at the Arlington National Cemetery, the Supreme Court said.