Statement by HBA/HBF/HBA Gender Fairness Committee on the Passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Share Your Reflections and Recollections
We honor the life and legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She was one of the finest lawyers of our times — as a leading scholar, lawyer, and jurist. She accomplished as much as any person of her era to advocate for and expand the legal rights of millions of Americans, especially in the areas of employment and education.
Justice Ginsburg's impact spans generations. She began her legal career at a time when few women were admitted to law school or worked at law firms. She blazed multiple trails through those challenges — in academia, as an advocate in court, and ultimately with her appointments to the D.C. Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. There, she authored many landmark decisions. Her relationship with Justice Antonin Scalia showed Americans the meaning and importance of true friendship, especially when friends hold profoundly different views.
As a loving wife, mother, and grandmother to her family throughout the course of her remarkable professional career, she was a pioneer of “work life balance” as a means towards gender equality. She was a role model for everyone, regardless of gender, who strives for success in both work and family. Her life teaches us how a good life is lived.
We welcome your reflections and recollections on Justice Ginsburg. Please email Tara Shockley at taras@hba.org and we will post thoughts on the HBA website, as well as share on social media.
May her legacy as a fierce champion of justice and fairness for all inspire us always.
Houston Bar Association
Bill Kroger, President
Houston Bar Foundation
Susan L. Bickley, Chair
HBA Gender Fairness Committee
“
For me, Justice Ginsburg represented what women are capable of when given a chance. I know we say, “strong women - may we know them, raise them, and be them,” but let’s:
- Value them
- Reward them
- Honor them
- Hire them
- Promote them to executive positions
- Make them partners at law firms
- Listen to them
- Elect them to offices
- Not interrupt them while speaking
- Take them seriously
- Not question their abilities
- Appoint them to offices and to the SCOTUS
”
—Marissa Marquez, 2019-2020 HBA Gender Fairness Committee Co-chair
“
I met RBG in late 1996/early 1997. I was in Washington DC to see my mother who was living there at that time. And, to attend a small St Mary’s University Law School reception honoring RBG. The Dean from the law school was in attendance. Some of my former law professors were in attendance. Law school donors were in attendance. There were maybe 50 people at the reception. It was a very special occasion, and the reception was formal. The food for the reception was intentionally San Antonio style - queso, chips, fajitas, guacamole. Mom was my +1 for the reception. To my horror, she double-dipped the queso. She got back into me loudly when I scolded her under my breath. I turned bright red. That was Mom. Later, standing close to RBG - she was so very tiny — I noticed she seemed aloof, and totally uninterested in questions she was being asked by her admirers .. about the law, the court, court decisions. She turned ever so slightly in my general direction and I made my move. I couldn’t think of an intelligent question. So, I simply asked how she was doing after being mugged while out walking in D.C. To my astonishment, she spun around, faced me directly and started to tell me all about her mugging. She didn’t want to talk about her work. She wanted to talk that night about life. When she stopped, I stood there frozen. I froze. The crowd quickly engulfed her again and she was gone. But in that moment, it was just me & RBG. Mom never ever stopped double-dipping queso.
”
—Teresa J. Waldrop, Law Offices of Teresa J. Waldrop, P.C.
A memorial for Justice Ginsburg in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building. Photos by Beth Malks, Sarah Malks, and Margaret Wohler, courtesy of Susan Bickley.