We are very excited to feature student voices on the WLP Blog. Our first blog post is written by Michaila Musman (IAC 2014-15), who attended the discussion between Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Maeva Marcus, a GW law professor, at the Lisner Auditorium on September 12, 2014. Justice Ginsburg came to GW as a part of the celebration of the Sixth Annual Capital City Constitution Day.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a pioneer of women’s rights and liberties on the Supreme Court bench. The moment she stepped on stage, the room erupted into applause, and the respect the audience revered her with was palpable in the atmosphere. I became more aware of Ruth Bader Ginsburg after reading her dissent on the Hobby Lobby case. The final ruling had really infuriated me, and reading her criticisms of the decision was an incredibly powerful and inspiring experience. It seemed like the luckiest twist of fate that I was able to hear Ginsburg speak just a few months after discovering her as a personal role model. I found the most awe-inspiring part of her interview was the incredible poise with which she spoke and her detailed memory of cases and their years. Having the firsthand account of how she was inspired to campaign for women’s rights in relation with the constitution was empowering, as she was the second female Supreme Court justice, a true pioneer with Sandra Day O’Connor. When asked about a course review she had penned that credited two other women who did not physically write the piece, Ginsburg’s incredible humility shone. She said that although the two women didn’t write the review directly, there were catalysts for equality for women and deserved proper recognition for their efforts. These qualities of humility and leading by example are a large part of why Ginsburg has become a role model for me. Her hint of stubborn sass is indicative of her passion for women’s equality and the feminist fight in government.
