Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)
By grit and determination, brains, courage, compassion and a fiery commitment to justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg rose from modest beginnings to become one of the most respected, and most beloved, jurists of our time. She inspires women and men of all ages to realize that a democracy thrives to the extent that it provides every citizen equal footing to achieve their dreams. Justice Ginsburg has few peers in advancing the cause of human equality through the law.
— Amy Gutmann, President of the University of Pennsylvania and Berggruen Prize Juror, in remarks given following the announcement of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as the winner of the 2019 Berggruen Prize for Philosophy & Culture. Ginsburg was chosen from a pool of more than 500 nominees, and the $1 million award is given each year to thinkers whose ideas have profoundly shaped human ideals. “Throughout her career, Ginsburg has used the law to advance ethical and philosophical principles of equality and human rights as basic tenets of the USA. Her contributions have shaped our way of life and way of thinking and have demonstrated to the world the importance of the rule of law in disabling discrimination,” said Berggruen Institute Founder and Chairman Nicolas Berggruen. Ginsburg will accept the award in December, and plans to donate the prize money to charitable or non-profit organizations.
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.