I clerked for Justice Ginsburg in the October 2000 term, before the days of RBG bobbleheads and “You Can’t Spell Truth Without Ruth” T-shirts. I had no idea I would one day become a judge, and I feel lucky every day that I had the chance to learn from her about the art of judging. Here are some important lessons she taught me:
1. Deliberate well, but be decisive.
2. Make collegiality a priority.
3. Write a good lead.
The equivalent skill for appellate lawyers is to write a compelling “summary of argument” at the beginning of a brief, which is also harder than it looks.
The equivalent skill for appellate lawyers is to write a compelling “summary of argument” at the beginning of a brief, which is also harder than it looks.
4. Don’t be afraid to use your own voice.
Legal writing, Justice Ginsburg’s example shows, need not be dull or formulaic.
Legal writing, Justice Ginsburg’s example shows, need not be dull or formulaic.
5. Remember: The law affects the lives of real people.
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