Equal Rights Advocate Timeline

  • Ruth Bader Ginsburg was born

    Ruth Bader Ginsburg was born
  • Ruth attended Harvard Law School

    Ruth attended Harvard Law School
    Ginsburg was 1 of only 9 women in her graduating class of 500. She would rank consistently at the top of her class and proved countless times that she not only belonged but was a top performer. Ruth would transfer out and complete her degree at Columbia Law because the Dean at Harvard would not allow her to finish her degree.
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    Ruth Bader Ginsburg Becomes Law Professor at Rutgers University

    In 1963 Ginsburg became one of only two female law professors at Rutgers University. In the late 60s she started a seminar on women and the law. In less than 3 years she was arguing gender discrimination cases before the Supreme Court.
  • Ruth Bader Ginsburg Appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia

    Ruth Bader Ginsburg Appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
    In 1980, President Jimmy Carter appointed Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the U.S Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. She served as an appellate judge there until 1993. In her 13 years she was known for her moderate stance in the court even though the rooms were mostly divided.
  • President Clinton Announces Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Nomination to the Supreme Court

    President Clinton Announces Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Nomination to the Supreme Court
    In 1993, Byron R. White handed in his resignation, thus opening a seat in the Supreme Court. She took the seat on August 10, 1993 making her the first female Jewish Supreme Court Justice.
  • United States v. Virginia

    United States v. Virginia
    In the case United States v. Virginia, on June 26, 1996, the Supreme Court issued a verdict mandating the acceptance of women by the Virginia Military Institute (VMI). Prior to this decision, VMI had stood as the sole remaining single-sex public university in Virginia. Ginsburg wrote the court opinion and voted in the majority and won the case 7-1. This showing that she was a true force and was well-deserving of her seat.
  • Ruth Bader Ginsburg Passes Away

    Ruth Bader Ginsburg Passes Away
    Ruth Bader Ginsburg's legacy is marked by her tireless advocacy for gender equality and civil rights throughout her legal career and her 27 years of service on the Supreme Court. She remains an influential figure in American jurisprudence and a symbol of determination and resilience.