Ruth Bader Ginsburg, an exemplary fighter

By Alejandro Carrió (*)

The recent death of Ruther Bader Ginsburg means the loss of one of the most representative and clear-sighted voices of the US Supreme Court of Justice and the legal community in general. A true champion in the struggle for full recognition of gender equality, Bader Ginsburg adopted the technique of patiently selecting, one by one, the cases to be heard by the High Court, in pursuit of a grand and ultimately achieved goal: that gender disparity cases would be given the same “suspect classification” status that was established in the 1950s and ’60s for racial discrimination.  

Her fight in that direction was gradual but uncompromising. After winning resounding victories in the Court’s recognition of women’s right to equal treatment, President Bill Clinton nominated her to take a seat at the very same bench where she had litigated so professionally and successfully. Her nomination was accepted by an overwhelming majority of senators. Regardless of political allegiance, it was universally recognized that they were before a lawyer of excellence.

At a time when, in our country, the professional qualities and merits of an individual do not seem to be a feature of special worth, the recognition of the excellence of persons of the stature of Ruth Bader Ginsburg becomes particularly meaningful.

(*) Vice President of the Association for Civil Rights (ADC)