RBG

Profile: RBG

No, I didn't interview Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but I did see the wonderful documentary, RBG, and that is how I learned about this remarkable person. It is a movie that should be seen by everyone. 

Justice Ruth Ginsburg was born in Brooklyn in 1933. She was always a serious child who was smart and responsible. Her mother taught her to be independent and to value education. Tragically she died shortly before Ruth graduated from High School.

That Fall Ruth enrolled in Cornell University where she graduated at the top of her class. She and her husband later attended Harvard Law School while they were the parents of a young son.  She and her seven female classmates of a class of five hundred were treated like second-class citizens. One Dean even complained that the women were taking up spots men could have filled. During that time her husband developed testicular cancer, and Justice Ginsberg was forced to manage her classes, help her husband with his, and care for her young son. He eventually recovered and the couple moved to New York when Mr. Ginsburg received an offer from a prestigious law firm. The move necessitated Justice Ginsburg transferring to Columbia, where she graduated first in her class.

In spite of the fact that she was a brilliant student, Justice Ginsburg was unable to find a job in a law firm due to gender discrimination.  She turned to academia, first teaching at Rutgers and later at Columbia Law School, where she became the first female tenured professor in the school's history. 

During the 70's Justice Ginsburg argued many gender discrimination cases before the Supreme Court, most of which she won. Her ability to focus and write effective briefs was legendary. 

 One of her most well-known cases involved erasing the barrier to women cadets at the Citadel, a military college in Virginia. Her victories helped establish case law, which made it more difficult for women to be discriminated against.

Some years ago President Clinton needed to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court. He offered the job to Mario Cuomo, who was then the governor of New York, but he turned it down. At the urging of colleagues, he interviewed Justice Ginsburg.  Within 15 minutes He knew she was the right choice.

Though quiet and shy, Ruth Ginsburg was attracted to outgoing, fun loving men. Her extroverted husband Marty died in 2010 of cancer. While he was alive Antonio Scalia was one of her best friends though they help opposite political views. They loved opera, travel, and poking fun at each other.

Some years ago, Justice Ginsburg attended an opera in New York. As she sat down the audience erupted into applause. She was genuinely surprised though no one else was.