“The women of my generation and my daughter's generation, they were very active in moving along the social change that would result in equal citizenship stature for men and women.” – U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (aka “RBG”)
“How fortunate I was to be alive and a lawyer when, for the first time in United States history, it became possible to urge, successfully, before legislatures and courts, the equal citizenship stature of women and men as a fundamental constitutional principle.” - RBG
A few days ago, Peggy and I saw the excellent documentary film “RBG” about the inspiring, groundbreaking career of U. S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
About 15 hours later, our first grandchild, Violet Stanley Fisher, was born.
In my mind, RBG and Violet will forever be intertwined.
The striking contrast between Justice Ginsburg’s small size and her outsized impact inspired a blog and a book, Notorious RBG (a pun on the late, very large “gangsta” rapper Notorious B.I.G.).
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the first in her family to go to college, one of nine women in a Harvard Law School class of more than 500, the first female tenured law professor at Columbia Law School, and the second woman to sit on the nation’s highest court after 200 years of only men.
After graduation, no New York law firm would hire her despite having graduated at the top of her class. As a founder of the ACLU's Women's Rights Project and the ACLU's general counsel, she argued six cases before the U.S. Supreme Court aimed at laws that treated men and women differently, and won five.
While there still is much progress to be made, the world in which our granddaughter will grow up is one full of virtually limitless opportunities for girls and women, thanks in large part to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Violet’s middle name, Stanley, is in honor of her great-grandfathers, Stanley M. Fisher (my father) and Stanley R. Rader, both great lawyers.
They would have been bursting with pride that their great-granddaughter, Violet, will have the opportunity to be notorious in the best sense of the word- well-known for having achieved her dreams and having helped others achieve theirs.
Thanks.
Have a great week.
For copies of past messages, please go to this link: Monday Morning Messages.
My best,
Lee
My views in all my Monday Morning Messages are my personal views alone and do not reflect the views of our Law School or our University.