-
A Legend is Born
Ruth Joan Bader was born March 15, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York to Nathan and Celia Bader. Her neighborhood was low-income and working class, and she later learned the significance of education from her mother. (Picture is from 1935) -
Celia Bader Passes
Ruth's mother passes from cancer and is buried the day before Ruth's high school graduation. Ruth did not attend her graduation. Celia's selflessness inspired Ruth throughout her personal life and career. -
Top of Her Class at Cornell University
While studying government at Cornell University, Ruth meets her soon-to-be husband, Martin D. Ginsburg. She marries Martin in 1954, and they have a daughter born that same year. -
Enrolled at Harvard Law
After the return of her husband from serving two years, Martin and Ruth Ginsburg both enrolled at Harvard Law School. Ginsburg learned how to balance motherhood and male-dominated law school. There were nine women total for a class of over 500 students. Ginsburg made the Harvard Law Review her second year of school (top 25 students of the class). All the while attending to her young daughter and caring for her husband who was diagnosed with cancer and receiving aggressive treatment. -
Graduates from Columbia Law School
After Martin Ginsburg's graduation from Harvard Law, the small family moved to New York City where Martin had accepted a position at a law firm. Here Ginsburg attended and graduated from Columbia Law School. She again become a part of the law review at Columbia. -
Professor Ginsburg
Despite Ginsburg's formidable academic records, many law firms refused to hire her on account of her sex. Ginsburg worked as a clerk for U.S. District Judge Edmund L. Palmieri (from 1959-1961), before she obtained a position at Rutger's University as a Law Professor (from1963-1972). She later taught at Columbia (from 1972-1980) as a Professor. Ginsburg taught classes such as "Gender and Law". -
Ginsburg Joins the ACLU
Ginsburg also founded the Women's Rights Project in 1972, to help empower marginalized groups of women. She went on to win 5 of 6 landmark Supreme Court Cases regarding gender equality and rights. -
Frontiero v. Richardson: A Win for Ginsburg and Levin
Landmark Supreme Court case that dealt with gender discrimination about the housing and spousal benefits in the Air Force that were awarded to the men serving. This, however, did not apply to women who were serving, nor their spouses. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court and resulted in Frontiero victory, as it was ruled unconstitutional and was a step towards gender equality in the military. -
Weinberger v. Wiesenfeld: Gender Equality Benefits Everyone
Supreme Court case where a widower (Mr. Wiesenfeld) was not given social security benefits for late wife, due to his gender, which was not supported under the "Mother's Benefit". Ginsburg showed how gender-based discrimination hurts everyone. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Wiesenfeld. -
Appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals in DC
President Jimmy Carter appoints Ginsburg to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. -
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ginsburg was appointed Supreme Court Justice by President Bill Clinton after the retirement of Justice Byron White. Ginsburg was the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court (Sandra Day O'Connor being the first in 1981). Her husband was her number one supporter and campaigner with his connections. After an interview with President Bill Clinton, it was clear she was the best candidate. -
United States v. Virginia
The prestigious Virginia Military Institute did not allow women into their institution until this landmark Supreme Court case. Justice Ginsburg believed the admissions were discriminatory on the basis of sex, therefore violating the 14th Amendment. The decision was very controversial at the time. -
Thurgood Marshall Award
Justice Ginsburg was the first women to be awarded the Thurgood Marshall Award, "in recognition of her development and advancement of gender equality law". The American Bar Thurgood Marshall Award honors legal professionals in their endeavors for equal rights.
Retrieved from: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/awards/crsj-thurgood-marshall-award/past_recipients_list/ -
Bush v. Gore 2000 Presidential Election
Supreme Court case where the a close race to the 270 electoral college votes came down to Florida and its disputed vote count. A recount was disputed over and it was decided that a recount would violate equal protection. Justice Ginsburg dissented against the court's decision that favored Bush. Coined the term "I dissent" that strayed from "I respectfully dissent". -
Beloved husband Martin Ginsburg Passes
Martin Ginsburg, Justice Ginsburg's husband of 56 years, passed away from cancer. He was Justice Ginburg's biggest supporter and 78 years of age when he passed. He was well-known for his humorous character, which Ginsburg was fond of.
"My wife doesn't give me any advice about cooking and I don't give her any advice about the law."- Martin Ginsburg -
Presidential Candidate Donald Trump aka "Faker"
Justice Ginsburg called 2016 Presidential Candidate Donal Trump a "faker" and stated that, "He has no consistency about him. He says whatever comes into his head at the moment. He really has an ego...How has he gotten away with not turning over his tax returns? The press seems to be very gentle with him on that". She later apologized, however received much backlash from Presidential Candidate Trump and his supporters who all used her age as a weapon against her cognition. -
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Passes at 87
After a long battle with pancreatic cancer, Justice Ginsburg passed away in her home in Washington D.C. She was surrounded by family and the country mourned the loss of feminist icon. On September 25, she was laid to rest in the State Capitol, the first woman and second Supreme Court Justice to be given this honor.
