RBG

 Mourning the passing of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

It has become chic to occupy the parapets of partisanship, and become amateur political operatives at every opportunity. It is particularly so upon the death of a Supreme Court Justice. Friends and family members have not had time to digest the sad news before Washington moves on, if one can call it that.

Ruth Bader Ginsberg served her country in an indispensable way. She was a tireless advocate for equal rights, especially where gender is concerned. At a time when women were openly discriminated against - and the law permitted it - she began the long, arduous process of evening the playing field. A gifted and accomplished law student, she was initially deprived of the opportunity to serve as a judicial clerk because of her gender.

It is easy to disagree with Justice Ginsberg on matters of law. Were it not for reasonable differences of jurisprudential opinion, law would be a sterile and boring endeavor. It would not be very difficult to find an array of her opinions where even a cursory reading results in head shaking and tut-tutting.

It is also not hard to find a person fully committed to justice, equality and freedom. Her opinions were well written, precise and forceful. It was common during a Supreme Court term to select one of her missives and admire the pith with which she stated her position. Sometimes, grudgingly, I had to admit she changed my mind.

Justice Ginsberg served her country by being a strong advocate for her principles. They didn't change with the prevailing wind. When she wrote an opinion, it was hers - not, as so many mistakenly conclude, constrained by either rigid ideology or political party talking points. If the breadth of her work does not demonstrate that, one need only know that her closest friend on the Court was, until his own death, Antonin Scalia.

The law is more just and fair because you served admirably, Justice Ginsberg. Thank you.