My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Mary Hartnett and Wendy Williams

[Elena]

Please post discussion topics below!

[Elena]

My Own Words - Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Unpopular opinion: I enjoyed this book.

1. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a brilliant writer. She is intentional about the vocabulary she uses, and I enjoyed many of the words she chose throughout the book.
a. Quotidien, Sympathique, Extirpation, Indigent, “…or more exorbitantly” when talking about the children’s questions… “Cure worse than the disease” re: MCcarythism
b. “Even today, when I read, I notice with pleasure when an author has chosen a particular word, a particular place, for the picture it will convey to the reader.”
c. “Choosing the right word, and the right word order, he illustrated, could make an enormous difference in conveying an image or an idea.”
d. Caused me to introspectively consider the words I use when trying to draw empathy or understanding from the person I am communicating with.

2. The opera
a. I enjoyed “La Boheme” at the Lyric with Liz and Barney.
b. The notion that opera is “for the few” and how they related it back to justice, I felt that.
i. “So we’re freeing the people we used to hold captive, who deserve to be more than just servants and wives. If we hadn’t been willing to be so adaptive, Can you honestly say we’d have led better lives?”
3. Her relationship with Marty
a. So so so heartwarming. The fact that they are back together now, reunited in each other’s arms is an image I will eternally cherish
i. His speech about her re: the tenth circuit decision in the case with the son who wanted to take advantage of the tax credit awarded to female children taking care of their parents. Combining his interests with hers, swoon.

4. Learning
a. Historical aspects
i. I enjoyed learning of justices past, their judgements from the bench, and their personal lives/wives
1. Sandra Day Oconnor, Justice Rehnquist, John Marshall, Nellie Taft, Scalia
ii. Feminism
1. The only point I will make of this is that I whole heartedly concur with the assessment that a woman’s place is where ever she wishes it to be even if (and for me, especially if) it is beyond kinder, kirche and kuche (children, church and kitchen). And that a woman’s right to make decisions regarding her own body are central to her choices to contribute economically to her own freedom.
2. Except for the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote in 1920, our constitution contains no express provision regarding discrimination on the basis of gender.
3. “Mrs. America” on FX – Phyllis Schlafly is wild. Yall need to watch this show!!!
iii. International law
1. We must continue to evolve and strive to do better – Savant core values
iv. The constitution
1. Our constitution is old. Most of the world’s nations have rather new constitutions, written since 1970. Newer fundamental instruments of government generally contain a broad equality clause specifically proscribing discrimination on the basis of race, sex, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, religion, and other group characteristics.
2. “The story of the constitution she says is the extension of constitutional rights and protections to once-excluded groups: to people who were once held in bondage, to men without property, to Native Americans, and to women”
a. The founding fathers rebelled against the patriarchal power of kings and the idea that political authority may legitimately rest on birth status. Their culture held them back from fully perceiving or acting upon ideals of human equality and dignity.
3. Judicial independence – quelled some fears/anxieties I was having re: current administrations recent confirmations.
a. Judicial independence in the united states strengthens ordered liberty, domestic tranquility, the rule of law and democratic ideals… it would be folly to squander this priceless constitutional gift to placate the clamors of benighted political partisans.

5. Relatable
a. Law, like math, is free of the frivolities that some may subjectively consider enjoyable.
b. “She reads the whole constitution, doesn’t try to rewrite it to fit her political perspectives but understands it. You know, her job is to keep doing what the founders told her to do, which is form a more perfect union.”
i. I like to think this is how I approach my job as well.
c. In writing for the court, one must be sensitive to the sensibilities and mindsets of one’s colleagues, which may mean avoiding certain arguments and authorities, even certain words.
i. Judge Seitz considered “waiting a day” – I would suggest even a week or two – before deciding whether to send a biting response.
ii. Specifically, the report calls on judges to avoid disparaging personal remarks or criticisms, or sarcastic or demeaning comments about another judge, and instead to be courteous respectful and civil in opinions, ever mindful that a position articulated by another judge generally is the result of that judges earnest effort to interpret the law and facts correctly. To that good advice, one can say “amen”.