OP-ED: Losing Sleep for Notorious R.B.G.
by Brianne Recker
ON THE MORNING of Friday, February 6, 81-year-old Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg sat down in the center of Hill Auditorium’s stage in an armchair larger than her. The lights over the 3,500 eager individuals seated in the venue dimmed and focused on the three people seated on the stage—Justice Ginsburg, and two University of Michigan law professors (both of whom had previously clerked for her) that were serving as moderators for the conversation.
As soon as Justice Ginsburg crossed her legs, one stylish Jodhpur boot over the other, and the first question was asked, the audience hushed and became attentive. Sitting back in her chair and smiling warmly, the Justice created such a relaxed ambience that it was easy to forget that Hill Auditorium was hosting one of the nine current United States Supreme Court Justices, and one of only four women to have ever served on the Supreme Court.
However, her title of Supreme Court Associate Justice is not the only thing that sets Ruth Bader Ginsburg apart from so many other political figures. It’s remarkable to think that a woman born 60 years before the majority of her audience members could draw such an enthusiastic crowd from such a young demographic.
Though there were older adults scattered throughout the rows of seats, the majority of attendees at this year’s Tanner Lecture were college age students.
Why did a few thousand 20-somethings sacrifice Friday morning sleep to listen to Justice Ginsburg respond to an hour and a half worth of law-related questions?
The conversation began with questions about the Justice’s early professional life, such as why she went to law school when so few women did—during her time at Harvard Law she was one of only nine women in a class of 500. She playfully noted that the business profession was out of the question because women weren’t being admitted to business school, and fits of laughter from the audience ensued. She also talked about a student in one of her law school classes—Tony Lewis.
“In the first class, he answered every question right, and I decided that I would speak in class as much as Tony Lewis,” said Ginsburg. Justice Ginsburg’s refusal to watch opportunities pass by was an example from which I think many, including myself, can and should learn.
When she began teaching law in 1963 at Rutgers Law School in Newark, she was one of just two female professors.
When looking to replace a member of its faculty, “Rutgers searched for an African American man to replace him…[but] the next best thing was me,” she said.
There, she taught one of the nation’s first courses on women and the law. She then transitioned into her work with the American Civil Liberties Union, where she was one of the co-founders of the ACLU Women’s Rights Project. She worked on cases that addressed key issues such as maternity leave, women claiming unemployment pay, and equal education opportunities.
But through recounting her honorable professional history during the Tanner Lecture, Justice Ginsburg remained one of the most humble people that I have had the opportunity to listen to. She made the comment that through all her work her life was “never in danger,” unlike some of the other civil rights workers of her day. By downplaying the magnitude of her achievements, her humility and genuinely modest nature shined through the countless women’s rights triumphs that she shared with the audience.
Unlike the usual chatter that is heard at events like this, the entire room remained silent and attentive. As I looked around the seats surrounding me, I could see bodies leaning forward in interest and eyes glued on the powerful woman seated in the middle of the stage. It was as though they were afraid to miss one word, one anecdote, or one piece of advice from the Supreme Court Justice. But it’s not just her political position that gives her words such power. Though her manner of speech was filled with ease, she presented herself in such a way that each sentence reverberated throughout the large auditorium. Being a pioneer in the field of women’s rights and persevering through the injustices that she faced has given her unmatched wisdom, and Justice Ginsburg is one of those people that have the distinct ability to captivate a room.
At the end of the talk, the commentators asked Justice Ginsburg to share some advice with the young, aspiring individuals in the audience. To begin, she once again expressed her humility.
“I was tremendously fortunate to have been alive and a lawyer when the women’s movement became alive, and I had a talent that could help move social change along. I’ve gotten tremendous satisfaction from things that I have done that I was not paid to do, and if you think of yourself as a professional, well you’re not just going to get a job so you can turn over a buck,” she said. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is one out of a select number of lawyers who represent on a large scale what the field of law really is about—using a unique skill to help those that are less fortunate.
“Lawyers have a monopoly on certain services, and at least in exchange for that privilege, they ought to conceive of themselves as servants of the people,” she said. As an aspiring lawyer, Justice Ginsburg is the one person who has been able to express to me the duty that comes with the field of law. Her emphasis on passion and service are such an important reminder of why we choose to do the things that we do.
So although Ruth Bader Ginsburg is just one of countless people in my life who will give me guidance about the future, she is a living example of the advice she gives.
She encouraged me to be the one who chooses to follow my passion and carry out my responsibility to make a difference, and that is exactly why I, along with a few thousand others, chose to give up my Friday morning to hear her speak.