Top Chicago Lawyers Remember RBG

Rubén Castillo is partner litigation practice group and chair, Akerman Bench Akerman LLP; and former chief judge for the federal district court of northern Illinois.

"Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a national treasure who left many enduring legacies in the law. Her vision of equality for America deeply seeded several generations of lawyers who will now carry on her torch of equal justice. I am proud to be one of the countless attorneys and judges who were inspired by the life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg."

Patricia Brown Holmes, former Associate Judge and Managing Partner, Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP

“Notorious” is not the half of it—but it is the only word for a legend like Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg! Meeting and interviewing her was the highlight of my tenure as President of the Chicago Bar Association. She was like a girlfriend- -instantly friendly, caring, warm and sincere. There is no doubt she was large and in charge even though she was tiny and delicate in size. Her slow, deliberate style of speaking commanded that one listen. Her rationale, analysis, and thought were impeccable in every way. She was bold in moving forward causes important to our society in general and women in particular. Her legacy must live on.”

Ann-Marie Painter, chair of the Labor & Employment Practice at Perkins Coie

“Justice Ginsburg advocated all her life for gender equality, the underserved and those who had been passed over, especially women and minorities. She understood at a deep personal level what this felt like after graduating from Columbia Law School at the top of her class as a young woman in the 1950s and failing to land a job. She nonetheless pursued her passion for the law, eventually securing a position as one of the first female law professors in the country, and led a life dedicated to the service of others and of making this world a better place. She will be missed.”

Sharon Cruz, a lawyer for the state of Illinois

“Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a legal pioneer for equality. Despite being asked by the Harvard dean why she was taking a man’s spot, she graduated at the top of her Columbia Law class. After being denied a judicial clerkship because of her gender and getting demoted because she was pregnant, Ruth went on to construct a brilliant litigation strategy, guiding the ACLU through dismantling the structural sexism built into our legal system. Her incremental approach built a stable foundation for the logical steps she needed the Court to take, and inspired all of us who fight for change."

Steve Flores, partner, Winston & Strawn LLP

"Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an inspiration to many in the legal community and beyond. Through her quiet determination, perseverance, and intellect, she did her part to tear down systemic barriers for women in the U.S. She persevered despite countless personal challenges and setbacks. Her life and work should serve as an example to all of us that a more just and equal society is possible and that our struggle to tear down systemic inequalities is not in vain."

Mary A. Dempsey, president, DePaul College Prep.

“I'm honored to give some thoughts on Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She was a trailblazer for women like me who attended law school in the late 1970s and early 80s. Ruth Bader Ginsburg had already proved that women deserve a place in law school and in the courtroom, which wasn't a commonly held belief when she was a law student and a young lawyer. Her brilliance as a lawyer and a jurist, her quiet dignity, forceful advocacy for equity, and devotion to the rule of law combined to make her an unstoppable force and a role model for women and men. How fortunate our country is to have been the beneficiary of her towering intellect and her unwavering commitment to justice.”

Stacey Sherr Michelon, public interest attorney doing volunteer legal work for Northwestern University Bluhm Legal Clinic’s Children & Family Justice Center and The Moran Center for Youth Advocacy

She stood a mere 5 feet tall, yet loomed a giant. Small in stature, her words were anything but. She attacked gender discrimination with ferocity; she knew she had to take incremental steps to achieve substantial and permanent progress. She understood that “Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.” RBG changed this country for women. She changed it for men. She changed it for all Americans. Because of her, I grew up believing that I had a claim to my personhood as an equal among all citizens. RBG was a pioneer of justice whose legacy of liberty and equality will serve as a North Star for my generation and generations to come. I am eternally grateful to this groundbreaking force of nature for leading the way and bringing light to darkness.