Ruth Bader Ginsburg Biography

Early Life

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was born as Joan Ruth Bader on March 15, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York. She was the second daughter of Nathan and Celia Bader, Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. Her family lived in the working-class neighborhood of Flatbush, where Ginsburg was instilled with her mother's values of education and independence from a young age. Tragically, Ruth's mother passed away from cancer the day before her high school graduation, leaving a profound impact on her life. Despite this personal loss, Ruth excelled academically and went on to attend Cornell University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government in 1954. It was at Cornell that she met Martin D. Ginsburg, whom she married shortly after graduation. Ruth's early years were marked by a blend of personal challenges and academic achievements, setting the stage for her future pioneering career.

Career & Contributions

Ginsburg's legal career began in earnest after she enrolled at Harvard Law School in 1956, where she was one of only nine women in a class of about 500 students. Despite facing gender discrimination, she excelled academically and became the first woman to serve on the prestigious Harvard Law Review. After transferring to Columbia Law School to join her husband, who had taken a job in New York, she graduated tied for first in her class in 1959. However, Ruth faced significant barriers in the legal profession due to her gender. After clerking for Judge Edmund L. Palmieri of the U.S. District Court, she became a professor at Rutgers Law School in 1963, where she was one of only a handful of female law professors in the country. Ruth's career gained momentum in the 1970s when she co-founded the Women's Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). As the director, she argued numerous landmark cases that established the constitutional principle of gender equality. Her work led to her appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 1980, and ultimately, her historic appointment to the Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton in 1993.

Major Achievements

• Founding the Women's Rights Project - Co-founded and led the ACLU's Women's Rights Project, pioneering gender equality litigation.
• First Woman on Harvard Law Review - Became the first woman to serve on the prestigious Harvard Law Review.
• Landmark Gender Equality Cases - Successfully argued cases that led to the application of the Equal Protection Clause to gender discrimination.
• Appointed to U.S. Court of Appeals - Served on the D.C. Circuit Court, shaping significant legal opinions.
• Second Female Supreme Court Justice - Appointed to the Supreme Court in 1993, serving as a powerful voice for gender equality.
• Led Key Supreme Court Decisions - Influential in cases like United States v. Virginia, which struck down male-only admissions at VMI.
• Cultural Icon 'Notorious RBG' - Became a cultural icon and symbol of resilience and justice in her later years.

Personal Life

Ruth Bader Ginsburg shared a rich and supportive personal life with her husband Martin Ginsburg, a prominent tax attorney and later a law professor. Their marriage was a partnership of equals, with Martin often taking on domestic responsibilities to support Ruth's career. They had two children, Jane and James, and Ruth was known for her dedication to both her family and her work. Despite her formidable public persona, Ruth was known for her love of opera, which she shared with her close friend and ideological opposite, Justice Antonin Scalia. Her personal life was marked by resilience—she survived multiple bouts of cancer while serving on the Supreme Court, maintaining her rigorous work schedule and commitment to justice. Ruth's character was defined by her perseverance, her intellectual rigor, and her deep sense of fairness and equality.

Legacy

Ruth Bader Ginsburg's legacy is one of profound and lasting impact on American jurisprudence and society. As a Supreme Court Justice, she was a stalwart advocate for gender equality, civil rights, and the principle of equal protection under the law. Her clear and incisive opinions, both majority and dissenting, have left an indelible mark on legal precedent. Beyond her legal influence, Ginsburg became a cultural icon, affectionately known as the 'Notorious RBG,' symbolizing strength, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to justice. Her life and work have inspired countless individuals, particularly women and marginalized communities, to pursue equality and justice. Today, she is remembered not only as a legal trailblazer but as a symbol of courage and determination in the face of adversity, her impact continuing to resonate in the ongoing fight for equality.

Interesting Facts

• Ruth was demoted at her job at the Social Security Administration when she became pregnant with her first child.
• She often worked late into the night, maintaining a rigorous schedule well into her 80s.
• Ruth and Martin Ginsburg's love story began on a blind date arranged by mutual friends.
• Her nickname 'Kiki' came from her older sister who passed away when Ruth was just 14 months old.
• She learned Swedish to co-author a book on civil procedure in Sweden early in her career.
• Ginsburg became an internet sensation and feminist icon in her 80s, sparking the 'Notorious RBG' meme.
• Despite their ideological differences, she had a close friendship with Justice Antonin Scalia, often attending opera performances together.
• She was a strong advocate for work-life balance, often encouraging her clerks to have family dinners.