RBG and Me: Reflecting on Interacting with the Iconic Supreme Court Justice

On September 4th, I got an email that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg would be addressing the 1L class at Georgetown Law for the 4th consecutive year on September 12th. Coming off seeing mayor Muriel Bowser the day before, I was excited for the access that I suddenly seemed to possess, now being in DC. I clicked on the link to register for the lottery (not every 1L student could fit into the auditorium), and also on the link to ask a question, not expecting much. How little I knew.

When I got an email on the 6th, and was confirmed to be in the auditorium, I was overjoyed. Most of the close friends I had made through the first couple weeks also won the lottery, and we were all looking forward to see RBG together. We wouldn’t be halfway through our first month at law school, and already, we were getting to see a Supreme Court Justice, speaking directly to us. 

For those of you who have been living under a rock, I’m going to do my best attempt at introducing the Justice. Born in Brooklyn, she attended Cornell and then Harvard Law School, before becoming a professor and eventually a judge. Between those jobs, she managed to be the fiercest advocate for women’s rights in the Supreme Court’s history – winning five out of six landmark cases which eventually led to statutes accused of being discriminatory on gender grounds being given higher scrutiny under the law. In fact, many on both sides of the aisle have called her the Thurgood Marshall of women’s rights – and Marshall and Ginsburg are considered in their own class of Supreme Court justices because of their success both arguing and deciding landmark cases.

Her judicial bona fides and sharp dissents are only part of what makes Justice Ginsburg so iconic. It is safe to say that no other Supreme Court Justice has a nickname based on a rapper (The Notorious R.B.G.). She and her late friend (and ideological rival) Justice Antonin Scalia were immortalized in an opera called Scalia/Ginsburg, a treat for the two opera lovers. Last holiday season, On the Basis of Sex, starring Felicity Jones as Ginsburg, was released to good reviews. Finally, Kate McKinnon has portrayed Ginsburg a number of times on SNL, lobbing “Ginsburns” at others and dancing. While Ginsburg has been one of the most influential justices on the court, her cultural impact outside the court is unparalleled in American history.

Getting back to the event itself, I found out on the 10th that it was possible my question would be chosen, and the next day, further confirmation that the Justice’s staff had chosen my question. More specifically, the director of academic events sent an email reading, “We just got word from the Justice’s chambers that you are one of the approved questions so it will most likely be read (time permitting). I am going to have special events save you seat in the front.” I was overjoyed to get seats in the front, especially because I had class before the event, as I was expecting to have to sit all the way back.

On that Thursday, before my afternoon class, I put on a suit. This was Ruth Bader Ginsburg, cultural icon, Supreme Court Justice, and one of the heroes of my family. The tale of a Jewish woman from New York becoming one of the most powerful people in the world is something that unsurprisingly has inspired my family. In fact, one of the books I had brought to school was  “The Notorious R.B.G.”, and weeks later, I was going to be mere feet away from her. My heart was already racing. 

After class, I was told to wait in line with everyone, but when I got to the front, I was escorted to the front row, to a seat in the middle of the front row. I saw my section classmates all over the auditorium, and even many in the front row. I assumed that many questions had been selected, and I was more than excited to be one of them.

I was wrong. Because I had class previously, I was one of the last people to make it down to the front. I had assumed everyone in the front row had their names on the seats, and they had all gotten there before me. Then, I was told by one of the other lucky ones to have their question selected that there were 3 of us. Total. It is safe to say that I then realized how unbelievable my luck was. 

After a few minutes of waiting, and security sweeping the auditorium, Ginsburg was helped onto the stage. She appeared even more frail than I had seen her through the TV set. Her voice was soft but authoritative. The frailty seemed to abate when she started speaking, and I can remember the joy in my mind hearing her say “Octobah”, just like my grandparents might. 

Ginsburg went through remarks about the cases that the Court had faced over the last term, and previewed important cases for the next term. Her attention to detail was striking – and she seemed less partisan than her scathing dissents might make her appear. I did enjoy her joke at Justice Clarence Thomas’ expense; after all, he is well known for his reluctance to ask questions from the bench. It was the closest we would get to a “Ginsburn” all day. 

After her prepared remarks were finished, the Justice took questions from the Dean of the Law School, William Treanor. These mainly touched on her past as both an advocate and Justice. It was very surreal to hear Ginsburg talking about her legal strategy when bringing gender discrimination cases to the Court – how she went piece by piece and followed Marshall’s civil rights strategy. What was more amazing was the ability of the now-86 year old to effortlessly recall details from cases from over a half-century ago. 

Once those were done, the Dean announced that he would be reading selected questions from the 1L class. After my classmate asked if there were any cases that she regretted the court not granting certiorari on, I was next. My question, for those curious, was “Justice Ginsburg, your close friendship with the late Justice Antonin Scalia was well known as a famous friendship between people with opposing beliefs and ideologies. In a time with growing partisanship in the US, is there any advice you might have in bridging at least a personal gap between those with partisan divisions?”. My liberal tendencies are well known to any who have spent significant time with me, but I do think this is an important question, especially in figuring out how to contend with the current administration. When the Dean motioned for me to stand up while the question was asked, Ginsburg’s eyes turned to me. I tried to be placid on the outside, but on the inside, my brain was doing a billion cartwheels in excitement. 

While the Justice gave more general thoughts than specific tips, she was clear about the fact that this partisanship we are experiencing today is not productive for the country. She talked about how Strom Thurmond and Ted Kennedy, two men with very different beliefs, managed to legislate together for the benefit of the country. She emphasized the fact that compromise doesn’t always require complete agreement between the two sides. Finally, she exhorted us to be part of the solution, not the problem.

The final student question addressed what Ginsburg would add to the Constitution if she could. Her answer reflected what she’s been fighting for her entire life. To roaring applause, she replied that she would like to see an equal rights clause. After being gifted a Class of ‘22 shirt, Ginsburg left through a back door and went back to the pages of the textbooks we read in class. 

As I left the auditorium, I was still floating. My friends alternatively complimented me on the question I had written and complained about how jealous they were. As I approached my next class, I couldn’t suppress my grin.

They say to never meet your heroes, but sometimes, the consensus is wrong. Sometimes, experiences live up to your expectations and hopes. A week later, I still wonder if it was merely a dream, but it truly happened. I only know that I am incredibly fortunate for having experienced something that I will never forget.