When I appeared before the Supreme Court of the United States…..

It’s amazing how childhood hurts last a lifetime. When I got accepted into law school, I decided getting into law school wasn’t such a big deal. They let me in, so it can’t be a big deal. 

“When I appeared before the Supreme Court of the United States….” When I say that, people’s jaws drop. People are amazed. Stunned. They let me in so it can’t be a big deal. Why is everyone so impressed? When I took an adult religious education class and mentioned I was going to appear before the Supreme Court of the United States, the rabbi was astounded. I remember thinking that a rabbi who didn’t know me was impressed and my siblings and my mother wouldn’t have thought it was a big deal. If I did it, it couldn’t be a big deal. If I did it, it wasn’t worth noticing. 

It was a big deal. I got accepted in to a law school that rejects 90% of the people who apply. Appearing before the Supreme Court of the United States is a big deal. I appeared to be admitted to practice before the Supreme Court. For the rest of my legal life, I can go into the Supreme Court any time I want and listen to arguments. I never have arrive before dawn to stand in a line and be allowed to spend three minutes in the courtroom. For the rest of my legal life, I can use the law library at the Supreme Court. The library is an ode to wood. Raised panels everywhere. Rows and rows and rows of raised panels and books. Any time I want, I can go in the library, sit down and do research. I can eat in the cafeteria whenever I’m at the Supreme Court. 

It’s a big deal. 

When I appeared before the Supreme Court of the United States, I learned that Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the heart of the court. As long as she was on the bench, I knew my voice would be heard. Who will hear us now? The loss of Ruth Bader Ginsburg hurts more than the loss of Thurgood Marshall and that hurt more than the loss of JFK. 

It took 244 years before a woman lay in state in this country. Let’s make a big deal out of Ruth Bader Ginsburg being a Jewish American because being a Presbyterian American is no big deal. Let’s replace the heart of the court with a Religious Bigot American. 

It’s a big deal.