Rest in Peace Justice Ginsburg

News of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing hit us all like a shockwave. We, the Alameda County Bar Association, join the nation in expressing our deep grief and profound sadness for the loss of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. We extend our condolences to Justice Ginsburg’s family and loved ones.

Lovingly known as the Notorious RBG, Justice Ginsburg was a trailblazer, a legal crusader, and a champion of justice. As the second woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice Ginsburg was well known for her advocacy for gender equality. When asked when there be enough women on the Supreme Court, Justice Ginsburg proclaimed, “when there are nine.” Justice Ginsburg spoke often and openly about “unconscious” bias and its nefarious effect of unlawful discrimination.

Despite holding polar viewpoints and sparring throughout legal opinions, Justice Ginsburg shared a close friendship with Justice Scalia and enjoyed strong relationships with other conservative members of the Court, exemplifying the true meaning of civility in the practice of law.

Justice Ginsburg will be forever missed. We celebrate her life, her work, and her legacy; her brilliance lives on. Justice Ginsburg once said “[f]ight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” In her footsteps, the ACBA continues our march towards justice. We are organizing a series of educational programs on racial justice, co-sponsored with the Charles Houston Bar Association and the California Association of Black Lawyers. Upcoming programs focus on housing justice, whether implicit bias trainings work, and federal police intervention. You can register for these programs, find more information about our work, and watch previously recorded programs here.  Join us.