RUTH B . GINSBURG IN WRITING
Notorious RBG : The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg ( 2015 )
By Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik
ARTICLE BY CAROL S .
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the woman chosen by both the book and film discussion groups for March . The second woman to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States , Ginsburg spent much of her legal career as an advocate for gender equality and women ’ s rights . She worked resolutely toward upending legislation that discriminated based on one ’ s gender , was a founding counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union ’ s Women ’ s Rights Project , and designed and taught law courses on gender discrimination laws . Ginsburg became an associate justice of the Supreme Court in 1993 and become widely known for her articulately written dissents against prominent and politically-charged cases — making her a progressive and feminist folk hero , as reflected in the large number of books and films highlighting her important contributions .
” It was beyond my wildest imagination that I would one day become the Notorious RBG ,” Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said . But she embraced her cult status . She got the nickname in 2013 after her Supreme Court dissent that likened the invalidation of a key part of the 1965 Voting Rights Act to ” throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet .” It started with a Tumblr blog by Shana Knizhnik , then a law student , that brought the Supreme Court justice to overnight fame , playing on the name of the rapper Notorious B . I . G .
The co-authors are both “# millennials .” Ms . Knizhnik collaborated on the research and reporting and Irin Carmon , an MSNBC journalist , wrote the book . It is a playful combination of scrapbook and photographs of RBG over the years and includes images of her portrayal in a multitude of media interspersed with personal details of her life , her strategy to achieve gender equality , and her legacy as a Supreme Court justice . It ’ s playful but meant to be read seriously .
Comments
I learned a lot about the American legal system . But most of all I was impressed by Ruth Bader Ginsburg , who dedicated her long life to changing laws that were discriminating on the basis of sex or race . She fought for equality , not only for women but for all human beings . RBG did this with immense discipline , great style , and a well-balanced diplomatic temper . To quote Bill Clinton who appointed her in 1993 to the Supreme Court : “ She is too thoughtful for labels such as liberal or conservative .”
— Ulrike H .
Literally , a scrapbook full of family pictures and anecdotes of her life — intermixed with quotes from her now-famous briefs , opinions , and dissents . My favorite : “[ G ] eneralizations about ‘ the way women are ,’ estimates of what is appropriate for most women , no longer justify denying opportunity to women whose talent and capacity place them outside the average description .” United States vs . Virginia , 1996
— Carol H . www . awchamburg . org 15