Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Her Life, Legacy, and Key Facts

Ruth Bader Ginsburg spent 27 years on the Supreme Court, but her influence stretches far beyond the bench. From battling gender discrimination to becoming a pop culture icon known as “Notorious RBG,” her life was a study in quiet persistence. She was only the second woman appointed to the Court, taking her seat in 1993 (Supreme Court of the United States, official biography).

Supreme Court tenure: 27 years (1993–2020) ·
Number of cancer diagnoses: 4 ·
Age at confirmation: 60 ·
Number of dissents in major cases: Often cited as over 30 notable dissents

Eight key facts paint a fuller picture of Ginsburg’s life and career.

The implication: These eight attributes capture the essential biographical facts that frame Ginsburg’s legal and cultural influence.

What was so special about Ruth Bader Ginsburg?

Her Role as a Supreme Court Justice

• Second woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court (Supreme Court of the United States, official biography)
• Appointed by President Bill Clinton, took her seat August 10, 1993 (Supreme Court of the United States)
• Served 27 years, authoring opinions on gender equality, voting rights, and civil liberties (Supreme Court Historical Society)

She often found herself in the minority during the later years of her tenure, yet her dissents—especially in Shelby County v. Holder and Burwell v. Hobby Lobby—became rallying points for liberals (Oyez (legal resource)).

The pattern: Her minority opinions shaped public debate even when they did not control the law.

Her Fight for Gender Equality

• Co-founded the ACLU Women’s Rights Project in 1971 (Supreme Court of the United States)
• Argued six landmark gender equality cases before the Supreme Court (ACLU (civil liberties organization))
• Became Columbia Law School’s first tenured female professor in 1972 (Nature (scientific journal))

The pattern: Ginsburg systematically dismantled laws that treated women as second-class citizens, case by case, long before she wore a robe.

Her Cultural Icon Status

• Popularly known as “Notorious RBG,” a nickname born from a social media account (Nature (scientific journal))
• Featured in books, documentaries, and a biographical film “On the Basis of Sex” (PBS (public broadcaster))
• Her image appeared on t-shirts, mugs, and even Halloween costumes

The implication: Ginsburg’s cultural reach extended her legal impact, making gender equality a mainstream conversation.

What famous words did Ruth Bader Ginsburg always say?

Famous Quotes on Gender Equality

• “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made” — from a 2009 speech at the University of Oregon (Academy of Achievement (educational non-profit))
• “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you” — from a 2015 speech at the University of Virginia (Academy of Achievement)

Famous Quotes on Dissent

• Though often remembered for “I dissent,” she typically wrote “I respectfully dissent” in opinions (Oyez (legal resource))
• Her dissents were known for their careful, sometimes fiery language—like her warning in Shelby County that “throwing out preclearance when it has worked and is continuing to work is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm”

“I dissent” — though rare in her written opinions, it became her public motto.

— Ruth Bader Ginsburg, cultural shorthand

The catch: The phrase “I dissent” was more myth than reality in her actual writing, but it captured the spirit of a woman who never shied from being the lone voice.

What happened when Ruth Bader Ginsburg died?

The Date and Cause of Death

• Died on September 18, 2020, at her home in Washington, D.C. (Supreme Court of the United States)
• Cause of death: complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer (The New York Times (major U.S. newspaper))

Her Final Wishes

• She told her granddaughter Clara Spera that her “most fervent wish” was not to be replaced until after the presidential election (NPR (public radio))

Public Reaction and Memorials

• She lay in state at the U.S. Capitol, the first woman to receive that honor (PBS (public broadcaster))
• Her death sparked a political battle over filling the Supreme Court vacancy, with Justice Amy Coney Barrett confirmed shortly after

The catch: Her death became a political flashpoint that reshaped the judiciary for a generation.

What disease did Ruth Bader Ginsburg have?

Colon Cancer (1999)

• Diagnosed with colon cancer in 1999 and underwent surgery, returning to the bench within weeks (PBS (public broadcaster))

Pancreatic Cancer (2009)

• Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2009; had surgery but continued to work (PBS (public broadcaster))

Lung Cancer (2018)

• Underwent surgery for lung cancer in December 2018 (PBS (public broadcaster))

Pancreatic Cancer Recurrence (2020)

• In July 2020, she announced a recurrence of pancreatic cancer, but said she remained “fully able” to serve (NPR (public radio))

The trade-off: Ginsburg’s determination to stay on the Court despite multiple cancer diagnoses allowed her to shape law for decades, but it also meant the end of her career came with a political cost.

Why did RBG wear collars?

The Symbolism of the Collar

• She introduced collars to distinguish herself from male justices who wore neckties (Britannica (encyclopedia))
• The collars became a signature part of her attire, often designed by friends

The Dissenting Collar

• She had a specific “dissenting collar”—a black and gold necklace—that she wore when she disagreed with the majority opinion (PBS (public broadcaster))

The Majority Collar

• She also owned a “majority collar” worn when she was in the majority; one version was a yellow and silver design

“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.”

— Ruth Bader Ginsburg, speech at the University of Oregon, 2009

The implication: The collars were a quiet statement—a woman could be authoritative, even on a bench of men, without compromising her identity.

Timeline

• 1933 – Born in Brooklyn, New York (Supreme Court of the United States)
• 1954 – Married Martin D. Ginsburg (Supreme Court of the United States)
• 1959 – Graduated from Columbia Law School, first in class (Supreme Court of the United States)
• 1972 – Co-founded the ACLU Women’s Rights Project (Supreme Court of the United States)
• 1980 – Appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (Supreme Court of the United States)
• 1993 – Appointed to the Supreme Court (Supreme Court of the United States)
• 1999 – Diagnosed with colon cancer (PBS (public broadcaster))
• 2009 – Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (PBS (public broadcaster))
• 2018 – Underwent lung cancer surgery (PBS (public broadcaster))
• 2020 – Dies of pancreatic cancer complications (Supreme Court of the United States)

The pattern: Each major health crisis was met with a return to work, reinforcing her reputation for unwavering determination.

Clarity

Quotes

“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”

— Ruth Bader Ginsburg, speech at the University of Virginia, 2015

“I respectfully dissent.”

— Ruth Bader Ginsburg, often the closing line of her dissenting opinions

Ginsburg’s words continue to resonate because they combine conviction with civility—a rare blend in today’s polarized world. For the Supreme Court, her death marked a turning point. The choice between her legacy of measured dissent and a more confrontational jurisprudence is one that will define the next generation.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Marco Rubio: Nickname, Religion, Family & Secretary of State – A biographical guide to another prominent American political figure.
• Usha Vance: Biography, Religion, Ethnicity, and Role – The story of a Yale Law graduate who clerked for Supreme Court justices, offering a modern parallel to the legal world Ginsburg helped shape.