Ruth Bader Ginsburg

US Supreme Court justice from 1993 to 2020

Joan Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a prominent American lawyer and jurist who held the position of associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States for nearly three decades, from 1993 until her passing in 2020. Her appointment to the Court was made by President Bill Clinton, who nominated her to succeed the retiring justice Byron White. At the time of her nomination, Ginsburg was seen as a moderate voice who could build consensus. She made history by becoming the first Jewish woman and the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court, following in the footsteps of Sandra Day O'Connor.

Throughout her tenure, Ginsburg authored several significant majority opinions, including notable cases such as United States v. Virginia, Olmstead v. L.C., Friends of the Earth, Inc. v. Laidlaw Environmental Services, Inc., and City of Sherrill v. Oneida Indian Nation of New York. As her time on the Court progressed, Ginsburg garnered attention for her passionate and liberal dissents, which reflected her perspective on the law. Despite being listed under the field of literature, her actual career and impact were in the realm of law and jurisprudence. Ginsburg's legacy is marked by her trailblazing presence on the Supreme Court and her influential opinions on notable cases.