Madame Justice

Mike Wallace Interviews Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

(CBS) 
She says she agrees with former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who wrote that a state of war does not give a president a blank check.

"In this country, we have no royalty. We have no king who has absolute authority," Ginsburg says.

Justice Ginsburg rejects the term "liberal," although she's universally seen that way. Conservatives argue she strays from the original meaning of the Constitution as penned by the Founding Fathers.

"They never thought about abortion, same sex marriage, when they drafted the Constitution," Wallace says of the Framers.

"If the framers never thought about those questions, they never thought about Blackberries," Ginsburg says. "They never even thought about automobiles. Think back to 1787. Who were 'We the people?' They certainly weren't women. They certainly weren't people held in human bondage. The genius of the United States and our Constitution is that over now more than 200 sometimes turbulent years, that 'we' has expanded and expanded."

She says justices are closer to firefighters than politicians.

"They don't make the fires, but they do their best to put them out. That's what the role of the judge is—to pass on controversies, to see that matters are settled peacefully and reasonably and that people don't settle their differences by badgering each other, by coming to blows," she says.

With the retirement of Sandra Day O'Connor, Ginsburg is now the only woman on the court.

"Yet at your confirmation hearing back in '93, you said: 'In my lifetime, I expect to see three, four, perhaps even more women on the high court bench,'" Wallace says. "So, where are they?"

"Sadly they are not here," Ginsburg says. "Because the president has not nominated them and the Senate has not confirmed another woman. You would have to ask the political leaders why a woman was not chosen. You look to our neighbor to the north. Canada has a woman Chief Justice, and three of the other justices are women."

Though soft-spoken and diminutive, Justice Ginsburg is not just brilliant, she's also physically touched. In 1999, she was diagnosed with cancer.

"During my bout with colorectal cancer, thanks to my colleagues and my family, I did not miss a session," Ginsburg says.

She has been married for 52 years to Martin Ginsburg — a tax lawyer and college professor. His picture hangs on the door to her chamber.

"He generally starts calling me about 7:30 and says come home for dinner," she says. "I say I need another hour."

You see, he does the cooking. Her husband and two children kicked her out of the kitchen years ago.

She says she owes her successful marriage and legal career to a little bit of advice given by her mother-in-law on her wedding day.

"She said: 'Dear, in every good marriage it helps sometimes to be a little deaf,'" Ginsburg says. "And she gave me — with that she gave me a package of Mack's earplugs. And I have followed that advice, not only in dealing with my dear spouse, but in dealing with my colleagues; even my colleagues on the U.S. Supreme Court — you just tune out if any unkind word is said. And you go on with whatever point you are trying to make," she says.

"How does it feel when you realize that what you and your colleagues in the court are doing — can make history?" Wallace asks.

"Like I have a tremendous responsibility in my hand," Ginsburg says. "And that is why I prepare to the hilt. This is the best, but also the hardest job that I ever had had."

[adventurepa]

It's not easy to judge.
Imagine not taking religion or personal opinions into account and actually ruling on the facts alone.
The only thing they (are supposed to) base their decisions on is the constitution and bill of rights.
Most cannot keep their personal views out of a decision.
Look at the other comments to this article.
A perfect example.

[starlady2]

Ruth Bader Ginsburg has the "distinction" of opening the gates of hell by allowing rampant "usury" in that infamous ruling of hers. She is now very wealthy as a result. Since then, we are burdened with what used to be requirements on business accounts. Credit card companies are usurious through the roof, and our consumer protection and rights have been eliminated because of her. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, THE USURY QUEEN!