Justice Ginsburg: A People Person?

By Article III Groupie

Around One First Street, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg isn't known for being the most fun justice (although she does smell nice). Ruthie's days as a cheerleader ended long ago.

It's a tradition for each justice to have lunch once during the Term with the four law clerks of each of their colleagues. Clerks who have dined with Her Honor report that lunch conversation is painfully awkward. A clerk brings up a topic; RBG offers a short comment; the conversation dies. A second clerk brings up a different topic; RBG offers a short comment; the conversation dies. Lather, rinse, repeat.

But maybe RBG is more fun once you take her beyond the Beltway. She recently attended the annual symposium of the Ohio State Law Journal, "The Jurisprudence of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Discussion of Fifteen Years on the U.S. Supreme Court," and it sounds like she was interesting and engaging. Reports Law Dork:

Most important, it was clear, is her humanity.  From her stories about retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor to her opera recommendations — Butterfly or Boheme, for a first opera — it was clear that Justice Ginsburg is a woman who loves people and cherishes the role she plays in American life.

Sounds like she's not retiring. All eyes remain on Souter.

Update: Adam Liptak's account of RBG's appearance in Ohio is available in the New York Times.

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Comments

[Main Street Law]

On my summer study abroad to China a few years ago, a classmate and I ran into Justice Ginsburg at an Acrobatics show in Shanghai. She was very friendly and was kind enough to pose for pictures with two very eager law students. I hope she doesn't retire.

[ajreader]

I think I read an article in the past few months saying she wanted stay as long as Brandeis did. And we know Stevens wants to stay until he beats a few of the records (Douglas for longest and Holmes for oldest, IIRC), so that leaves the man from New Hampshire.