Leadership StrategyI write about pressing issues in legal education and society at large. Via FORBES
The incomparable U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, also affectionately known as the “Notorious RBG,” recently captivated a standing-room-only audience at the George Washington University. As part of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association’s program hosted by the George Washington University Law School, Justice Ginsburg engaged the audience during an interview moderated by one of her former clerks, the Honorable Goodwin Liu of the Supreme Court of the State of California. Soft-spoken but powerful, Justice Ginsburg covered such topics as the difficulty of entering the legal profession despite graduating in the upper echelons of her law class at Columbia University, and the politicized process for confirmation of judicial nominees.
Some describe her as an icon or even a rock star. To me, she epitomizes the American dream and consummate citizen lawyer.
Many know that Justice Ginsburg is the second woman to join the US Supreme Court and has carved out a position of distinction as a proponent of the rights of women and members of disadvantaged groups. What may be less recognized, however, is the professionalism that she brings to her office, even now at the age of 85. Despite a demanding schedule, she never shies away from opportunities to share her wisdom with generations of students and lawyers. Paulette Jones Morant, my wife, and I have had the good fortune of interacting with Justice Ginsburg on a personal level and can attest to the legitimacy of her iconic status.
Dean Blake Morant and wife Paulette with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at GW Law on September 12, 2018.BLAKE MORANT
During my tenure as dean of the Wake Forest law school, Justice Ginsburg taught in the law school’s summer program in Venice twice, with her husband, Martin (“Marty”) D. Ginsburg joining her as a teacher in 2008. Paulette and I spent quality time with the Justice and Marty and learned about their lives, philosophies and challenges. She possessed an appealing reserve that exuded intelligence, and he had a quick wit and brightness that amused her and charmed everyone whom he encountered. He teased her, and she enjoyed it. She had a passion for shopping and opera, and he possessed the talents of an acclaimed chef. Theirs was a special bond galvanized by love and mutual respect for each other’s talents.
Her unique relationship with Marty clearly influenced Justice Ginsburg. During her stint with the Wake Forest program in Venice, a group of the female students wanted to host her in a “women’s only” lunch. Justice Ginsburg agreed to the lunch, but only if the men in the program were also invited. In a paraphrase of her response, she stated that men should appreciate the need for mutual support so that everyone in a relationship succeeds.