Natalie Irula

Editor-in-Chief

An esteemed activist regarding human rights in this country, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, died at 87 on Sept. 18.

Surrounded by her family at her home in Washington, D.C., she died due to complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer.

She is survived by her two children: Jane Carol Ginsburg (George Spera) and James Steven Ginsburg (Patrice Michaels), four grandchildren: Paul Spera (Francesca Toich), Clara Spera (Rory Boyd), Miranda Ginsburg, Abigail Ginsburg, two step-grandchildren: Harjinder Bedi, Satinder Bedi, and one great- grandchild: Lucrezia Spera. Her husband, Martin David Ginsburg, died in 2010, according to CNN.

Throughout her career, Justice Ginsberg has made a substantial mark on U.S. politics and set out to fight for many causes including, but not limited to, gender equality and women’s rights. 

The Cornell University, Harvard Law School and Columbia Law School graduate’s most notable accomplishments include two landmark Supreme Court rulings regarding the Affordable Care Act in King v. Burwell and in Obergefell v. Hodges, which made same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states.

Additional accomplishments include the assignment of a majority opinion ruling for Sessions v. Dimaya and the striking down a provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Justice Ginsberg was nominated for her position on the Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton in 1993, according to CNN. She also served on the DC federal appeals court, launched the American Civil Liberties Union Women’s Rights Project and was named one of Forbes Magazine’s 100 Most Powerful Women from 2004 through 2001.

The release of her memoir, “My Own Words,” in 2016 was followed by a documentary titled “RBG” for which she appeared in the Sundance Film Festival.

“Our Nation has lost a jurist of historic stature,” said Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. in a statement. “We at the Supreme Court have lost a cherished colleague. Today we mourn, but with confidence that future generations will remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as we knew her: a tireless and resolute champion of justice.”

Email Natalie at:

nirula@live.esu.edu