OF THE LAW CLERKS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE
COMPELLING WORDS.
THE ENTIRE FAMILY, ON BEHALF OF
ALL THE JUSTICES, THE SPOUSES OF
THE JUSTICES, AND THE ENTIRE
SUPREME COURT FAMILY, I OFFER
OUR HEART FELT CONDOLENCES ON
THE LOSS OF RUTH BADER GINSBURG.
THAT LOSS IS WIDELY SHARED, BUT
WE KNOW IT FALLS MOST HEAVILY ON
THE FAMILY.
JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG’S
LIFE WAS ONE OF MANY VERGS OF
THE AMERICAN DREAM.
HER FATHER, AN IMMIGRANT, HER
MOTHER WORKED AS A BOOK KEEPER
IN BROOKLYN.
RUTH USED TO ASK, WHAT IS THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BOOK KEEPER
IN BROOKLYN AND A SUPREME COURT
JUSTICE?
HER ANSWER, ONE GENERATION. IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT RUTH
IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT RUTH
WANTED TO BE A OPRA, SHE CHOSE
THE LAW.
SHE WAS A WOMAN, RUTH WOULD GROW
TO BECOME THE LEADING ADVOCATE
FIGHTING SUCH DISCRIMINATION IN
COURT.
SHE WAS NOT AN OPRA STAR, BUT
FOUND HER STAGE, RIGHT BEHIND ME
IN OUR COURTROOM.
SHE WON FAMOUS VICTORIES, MOVING
OUR COUNTRY TO EQUAL JUSTICE
UNDER LAW, WOMEN ARE NOW A
MAJORITY IN LAW SCHOOL, NOT A
HANDFUL.
LATER, A STAR ON THE BENCH WHERE
SHE CONQUERING AND DISSENTING
OPINION, WILL STEER THE COURT
FOR DECADES, THEY ARE WRITTEN
WITH THE UNAFFECTED GRACE OF
PRECISION.
HER VOICE IN COURT AND
CONFERENCE ROOM WAS SOFT.
WHEN SHE SPOKE, PEOPLE LISTENED.
AMONG THE WORDS THAT BEST
DESCRIBE RUTH, TOUGH, BRAVE, A
FIGHTER, A WINNER.
ALSO THOUGHTFUL, CAREFUL,
COMPASSIONATE, HONEST.
WHEN IT CAME TO OPERA,
PASSIONATE.
WHEN IT CAME TO SPORTS,
CLUELESS.
JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG HAD
MANY VIRTUS OF HER OWN, SHE
PROMOTED ONE PARTICULAR ONE,
HUMILITY IN OTHERS.
FOR EXAMPLE, ON MORE THAN A FEW
OCCASIONS, SOMEONE WOULD
APPROACH OR CALL ME AND DESCRIBE
SOME UPCOMING OCCASION OR EVENT
IMPORTANT TO THEM.
I KNEW WHAT WAS COMING.
COULD I COME AND SPEAK.
NO, INSTEAD, COULD I PASS ALONG
AN INVITATION TO JUSTICE RUTH
BADER GINSBURG AND PUT IN A GOOD
WORD.
MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE FAMOUS
PICTURE, RIDING ON AN ELEPHANT
IN INDIA.
IT CAPTURED SO MUCH OF RUTH.
THERE SHE WAS, DOING SOMETHING
UNEXPECTED, AS SHE HAD IN LAW
SCHOOL.
SHE WAS NOT ONLY ONE OF THE FEW
WOMEN, BUT A NEW MOTHER TO BOOT.
IN THE FRARVEGS SHE IS RIDING
WITH A DEAR FRIEND.
A FRIEND WITH TOTALLY DIVERTENT
VIEWS, THERE IS NO INDICATION IN
THE PHOTO ONE WAS TO PUSH THE
OTHER ONE OFF.
RUTH MET EACH CHALLENGE WITH
ASSESSMENT AND FIERCE
DETERMINATION.
SHE ENCOURAGED OTHERS TO WHO
HAVE THEIR BATTLES WITH ILLNESS,
INCLUDING EMPLOYEES HERE IN THE
COURT.
SHE EMERGED VICTORIOUS, TIME AND
AGAIN, AGAINST ALL ODDS.
FINALLY, THE ODDS WON OUT.
NOW, RUTH HAS LEFT US.
I MENTIONED AT THE OUTSET,
RUTH’S PASSING WEIGHED MOST
HEAVILY ON HER FAMILY AND THAT
IS TRUE.
THE COURT WAS HER FAMILY TOO.
THIS BUILDING WAS HER HOME TOO.
SHE WILL LIVE ON TO IMPROVE THE