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A Throne Fit For RBG
A THRONE FIT FOR R.B.G
A LOOK INTO THE HONORABLE LEGACY OF RBG
The recent passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has led us to reflect on her legendary life. She was a leader that broke barriers in a widely male-dominated realm. Ginsberg fought for a more democratic America by championing women’s rights and progressive legislation. As is the case with all true queens, her legacy will remain long after her passing.
Today in America we are centuries away from a history of monarchies and thrones, but in a democracy, strong and influential political figures can rise to the occasion and take on positions of power. The justices of the United States Supreme Court are looked up to by all the citizens, as it is their role to ensure justice under the law.
Ginsberg was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1993 after being nominated by President Clinton as the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court.1 Ginsburg made her name as a leading voice for gender equality, women’s rights and civil rights and liberties. She fought for women’s rights in the military, equal access to insurance, elimination of pregnancy discrimination and equal access to education.2
Most of Ginsburg’s most famous cases were for women’s rights and gender equality. In 2007, she stood up for women’s right to equal pay in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and in 2016, she fought to protect women’s reproductive rights by making abortion clinics more accessible in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt.3 Ginsburg also used her position on the Supreme Court to protect marginalized groups against injustices. This work included Olmstead v. LC in 1999 which focused on people with mental disabilities having the right to live in their own community and
1 Ibid 2“Biographies of Associate Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” Home - Supreme Court of the United States, accessed November 16, 2020 3Emma Sarran Webster and Caitlin Wolper, “8 Essential Ruth Bader Ginsburg Supreme Court Rulings to Know About,” Teen Vogue, 2020 Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015 which focused on the legalization of same-sex marriage.4
Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s start as a pop culture icon was in 2013 when she was nicknamed “Notorious RBG.”5 This nickname was suddenly plastered on stickers, memes and T-shirts. Including her nickname, Ginsburg is also seen in merchandise depicted as royalty. There are many popular images of her with a crown on her head, portrayed as a queen. There have also been many books written about her and two major motion pictures. On the cover of the New York Times Bestseller “Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” a drawing of Ginsberg is on the cover with a crown on her head representing her glorious and honorable legacy.6
Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing on September 18th 2020, not only upset the political realm, but the entire country. The crucial time of her death set up a space for President Trump to make his most lasting impression, nominating another justice to the Supreme Court. Back in 2016 President Obama was denied this opportunity when he nominated Merrick Garland for the Supreme Court ten months before the upcoming election, yet President Trump’s nomination was approved just 46 days before the election was approved.7 And to extend the magnitude of this move, Trump’s nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to replace Ginsburg has been deemed “the most dramatic ideological change on the Supreme Court in nearly 30 years.”8
Barrett has a conservative judicial record that display her as Ginsburg’s polar opposite on ideas and major hot topic
4Ibid 5 Sara Aridi, “How Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lives on In Pop Culture,” The New York Times 6 Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik, Notorious RBG: the Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg (London: HarperCollinsPublishers, 2018). 7 Tom McCarthy, “What Does Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Death Mean for the Supreme Court?,” The Guardian 8 Mark Sherman, “Barrett Could Be Ginsburg’s Polar Opposite on Supreme Court,” AP NEWS
issues including abortion and gun laws. While Ginsburg views abortion as a woman’s right that is protected by the constituion, Barrett believes it should be made illegal.9
As Ginsburg is as memorable as a queen, her Supreme Court seat was her throne and will be forever cherished and believed irreplaceable by her most loyal followers. Thrones represent power and sovereignty and display the hierarchy between royalty and commoners.10 While this was a tactic to have the audience physically look up at who sat in the throne, many looked up to Ginsburg as a leader and role model.
Despite her age, Ginsburg spoke to the younger generations. She paved the way that many young women in law and politics follow and hope to lead one day. The message from younger generations that has been seen all over social media since she passed is, “We may have lost Ruth, but we won’t lose what she stood for.”11 ■
9 Ibid 10 “How Did the Throne Develop as a Royal Symbol?,” DailyHistory.org, 2018 11 Brooke Gilmore, “We Won’t Lose What She Stood for: Millennials and Generation Z’s Emotional Farewell to RBG” Ark Valley Voice
