How Rbg Became A Law Clerk

In 1959, Ruth Bader Ginsburg earned her law degree at Columbia and tied for first in her class. Despite this, she encountered difficulty in finding employment due to her gender. In 1960, Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter rejected Ginsburg for a clerkship because she was a woman. Later that year, however, she began a two-year clerkship for Judge Edmund L. Palmieri of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. This was thanks to Columbia law professor Gerald Gunther, who threatened to never recommend another Columbia student to Palmieri if he didn't give Ginsburg the opportunity.

The influence of Gerald Gunther and Albert Martin Sacks

Ruth Bader Ginsburg faced many challenges in her journey to becoming a law clerk. Despite graduating at the top of her class at Columbia Law School in 1959, Ginsburg struggled to find employment due to the discrimination she faced as a Jewish woman and mother. However, she was fortunate to have the support of two influential individuals: Gerald Gunther and Albert Martin Sacks.

Albert Martin Sacks, a professor and later dean of Harvard Law School, provided a strong recommendation for Ginsburg despite her gender. Sacks' endorsement carried significant weight, as he was a well-respected figure in the legal community. His support helped to counter the biases that Ginsburg faced as a woman pursuing a career in law.

On the other hand, Columbia law professor Gerald Gunther played a crucial role in advocating for Ginsburg's clerkship. He pushed for Judge Edmund L. Palmieri of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to hire Ginsburg, even going so far as to threaten to never recommend another Columbia student if Palmieri did not give Ginsburg the opportunity. Gunther also guaranteed to provide a replacement clerk if Ginsburg did not succeed. This strong show of support from Gunther was instrumental in Palmieri's decision to hire Ginsburg, and it helped to counter the discrimination she faced.

Thanks to the efforts of Sacks and Gunther, Ginsburg was able to secure a clerkship with Judge Palmieri in 1960 and held the position for two years. This clerkship served as a stepping stone in Ginsburg's legal career, and she went on to become a prominent lawyer, jurist, and eventually, an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

The role of Judge Edmund L. Palmieri

Judge Edmund L. Palmieri played a pivotal role in Ruth Bader Ginsburg's career. Palmieri, a highly respected jurist who served in the Southern District of New York for over three decades, hired Ginsburg as his law clerk from 1959 to 1961. This opportunity proved to be a launching pad for Ginsburg's groundbreaking career.

Palmieri's decision to hire Ginsburg reflected his progressive hiring practices. During a time when women faced significant barriers in the legal profession, Palmieri actively promoted gender equality by hiring female law clerks, with almost a third of his clerks being women. Notably, the first three female clerks he hired were Jewish, including Ginsburg, who became the first Jewish woman to serve on the Supreme Court.

Palmieri's mentorship extended beyond simply offering Ginsburg a position. He provided a model for the modern clerkship, serving as a role model, teacher, and mentor to Ginsburg as a newly-minted lawyer. This guidance was instrumental in Ginsburg's development as a legal professional and set a standard for the role that judges should play in nurturing the next generation of lawyers.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Palmieri was also a loving family man and a dedicated public servant. He was a cultured individual who spoke three languages and moved comfortably in diverse social circles. His intellect and skill in handling a wide range of unique cases further contributed to his reputation as a respected jurist.

While Palmieri is often overshadowed by Ginsburg's remarkable career, his role in fostering her talent and providing her with a platform cannot be understated. He not only took a chance on a young Ginsburg but also created an environment that empowered her to thrive and make her mark on the legal profession.

Ginsburg's husband, Marty

Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Martin "Marty" Ginsburg were married for 56 years, from 1954 until Marty's death in 2010. The couple first met on a blind date in 1950 while both were students at Cornell University. Marty, already a sophomore, had urged a friend to set him up with the cute new freshman, Ruth. Recalling their first impression of each other, Marty thought Ruth was "awfully cute", while she appreciated that he cared about her being smart.

The couple married on June 23, 1954, just weeks after Marty graduated from Cornell. The wedding was held at his parents' home on Long Island, New York, with 18 family members in attendance. The Ginsburgs had two children: Jane Carol Ginsburg, born in 1955, and James Steven Ginsburg, born in 1965.

Marty served in the U.S. Army Reserve at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for two years. He viewed this time as an opportunity for the couple to strengthen their relationship. During this period, Ruth attended class and took notes for both of them, as well as caring for their young daughter. Marty later became a highly successful tax lawyer, with clients including billionaire Ross Perot. He was also a professor at Georgetown University Law Center.

Marty supported Ruth throughout her career and was instrumental in campaigning for her nomination to the Supreme Court. He was self-assured and confident in his wife's abilities, encouraging her in all her endeavours, from her nomination to her golf game. He was also the family chef, taking on the responsibility to spare the family from Ruth's poor cooking.

In 1955, Marty was diagnosed with testicular cancer and given a five per cent chance of survival. Ruth helped him graduate from Harvard Law School, often typing up his class notes and caring for their young daughter. Later, their roles reversed when Ruth faced her own battle with cancer, and Marty became her caretaker.

The couple's relationship was one of mutual support and equality, with Marty proudly declaring that in their home, responsibility was equally divided: "Dad did the cooking and Mom did the thinking."

The impact of her work in Sweden

In the early 1960s, Ruth Bader Ginsburg travelled to Sweden to work on a law project with Swedish jurist Anders Bruzelius. During her time in Sweden, Ginsburg was profoundly influenced by the country's approach to gender equality.

Ginsburg observed that, in Sweden, women made up 20 to 25 percent of law students. She also witnessed a female judge preside over a trial while eight months pregnant. These experiences stood in stark contrast to her experiences in the United States, where women were a minority in law school classrooms and faced significant barriers in the workplace.

Ginsburg's time in Sweden and her association with the Swedish Bruzelius family of jurists had a lasting impact on her thinking. She was inspired by the changes she observed in Sweden, including the high proportion of female law students and the support provided to women who were both working and raising children. Karin M. Bruzelius, the daughter of Anders Bruzelius, noted that Ginsburg realised "that one could live in a completely different way, that women could have a different lifestyle and legal position than what they had in the United States."

Ginsburg's observations in Sweden shaped her advocacy for gender equality and women's rights throughout her legal career. She went on to co-found the Women's Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union and serve as a prominent advocate for gender equality before the Supreme Court.

Ginsburg's clerks as honorary pallbearers

More than 100 of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's former law clerks lined up on the front steps of the Supreme Court as honorary pallbearers. Ginsburg's former clerks, who worked by her side during her years as a judge and justice, remembered her as an exacting mentor who treated them like family. Many travelled far to pay their final respects to a woman they revered.

Amanda L. Tyler, a professor at the law school of the University of California, Berkeley, who served as an honorary pallbearer, said: "It was our solemn duty to stand in honour of her and serve her this one last time. We came out en masse to help her one final time."

The clerks, most of them wearing black, stood in rows outside as a flag-draped casket carrying Ginsburg was brought up the steps, marking the beginning of a three-day public viewing. In accordance with COVID-19 guidelines, the honorary pallbearers wore masks and stood at least six feet apart.

Several of the former clerks shared fond memories of Ginsburg. "The justice taught us all a thing or two about a life well lived," said former clerk Lori Alvino McGill. Amanda Tyler, who became a clerk for Ginsburg in 1999, said that even in the days leading up to her death, Ginsburg was still hard at work and had sent Tyler a draft of a book project. "She was still teaching me about the craft of writing — how important precision is, and to never use four words when three will do," Tyler said.

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