This seminar will focus on the life and legal cases of U.S. Supreme Court justice, Ruth Bader Ginsberg. The “Notorious RBG,” as she is known, has been critical to the defense of women’s rights from long before her appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1993 by President Bill Clinton. We will analyze her important contributions to Rutgers’ Law School, where she began her legal career, at the ACLU, where she founded the Women’s Rights Project and in her co-founding of the critically important Women’s RightsLaw Reporter. Students will also read about the history and current challenges of gender discrimination in the legal profession. Before her appointment to the Court, Ginsburg argued several important cases before the Court (which the class will read, as well as listening to oral arguments). In both her majority opinions as well as in her dissents, Ginsburg has played a key role in issues such as workplace discrimination, domestic violence and reproductive rights. Each week, students will be responsible for reading one of the U.S. Supreme Court cases she has ruled on. We will integrate into class a visit from the current director of the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project (Lenora Lapidus) and possibly a class trip to Rutgers Law School.We will also explore questions regarding the cultural significance of RGB, which has fueled an unprecedented “swag” industry, as well as documentary and dramatic films.Students will conclude the seminar with a research paper on an RBG legal case of their choosing.
About Cynthia Daniels
Prof. Daniels has taught at Rutgers since 1992. She has formerly served as the department chair (2009-2012) and currently serves at the Associate Campus Dean for Douglass. Prof. Daniels is the recipient of many awards and honors, including the Rutgers University ‘Faculty Diversity Award (2012),’ awarded for outstanding achievement in contributing to diversity of the University faculty. Prof. Daniels is a native of the Jersey shore (Pt. Pleasant).