Ginsburg recounts career roadblocks

Says high court may soon have a new member

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who is recovering from surgery for pancreatic cancer, spoke at New England Law Boston yesterday. (Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff)

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, speaking in a soft voice to about 180 New England Law Boston students yesterday, recalled roadblocks she faced as a legal trailblazer, highlighted cases that transformed American history, and acknowledged the possibility that the high court may get a new member soon.

Ginsburg, who had surgery for pancreatic cancer Feb. 5 but returned to work 17 days later, talked with students at the Boston school for about an hour and took questions, often giving responses that drew laughter.

"If I could have asked God to give me any talent in the world, I would never have been a lawyer, I'd be a great diva," she said.

The students, chosen by lottery to attend, broke out in thunderous laughter as the diminutive associate justice flashed a coy smile. The school is celebrating its 100th year and yesterday was its annual law day.

Ginsburg said that whenever a new member is added to the court, they sit together for a photograph. She said such a photograph may not be far away.

"We haven't had any of those for a long time, but surely we will soon," she said. The longest-serving justice, John Paul Stevens, 88, was appointed by President Ford in 1975. The newest justice, Samuel A. Alito Jr., was appointed in January 2006.

Ginsburg said she has taken advice on how to deal with her recovery from former justice Sandra Day O'Connor, herself a cancer survivor, and has received support from her co-workers. She said Justice David H. Souter was so supportive that he filled in for her ailing husband, taking her to the opera.

"He never goes out, so people were amazed to see him," Ginsburg said of Souter.

A student then asked Ginsburg to name her favorite opinion, to which Ginsburg answered, "That's a little like asking me which of my four grandchildren I like best."

But she did highlight the importance of several ground-breaking cases, including the 1967 case striking down a Virginia statue that barred interracial marriage. "Now, the president of the United States is the child of an interracial marriage," she said.

She declined to answer how she would handle the same-sex marriage issue if it were to come before the high court, saying she did not want to be seen as prejudging the case.

Carol Ricker, a third-year law student from Franklin who asked the question on same-sex marriage, said after the event that she found Ginsburg a captivating speaker.

"By her sharing her experiences, she showed how she was able to change things, which should be an inspiration to not only women, but to men, people of color, everyone who wants to be successful," Ricker said.

Ginsburg said rising through the ranks in a legal profession that was almost the exclusive domain of men was challenging. She said that after she graduated from Columbia Law School in 1959, where she was at the top of her class, "there was not a single law firm in the city of New York that would give me a job."

The role of women in society continues to evolve, she said, and discrimination of single and married mothers must be tackled.

In her household, the traditional role of mom-as-cook was broken almost 30 years ago, when her husband took over the duties. "Since 1980, I haven't made a single meal," she said.