Joan Ruth Bader Ginsburg was born on March 15, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York. She rose from modest beginnings to become the second woman ever appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, where she served from 1993 until her death in 2020. Known affectionately as “RBG,” she became a cultural icon for her fierce advocacy for gender equality and justice under the law.

Ginsburg excelled academically, graduating first in her class at Cornell University and later attending Harvard Law School, where she was one of only nine women in a class of over 500 men. She transferred to Columbia Law School, where she graduated tied for first in her class in 1959. Despite her brilliance, she faced gender discrimination in the legal profession, often denied positions because she was a woman and a mother.

Undeterred, Ginsburg turned these obstacles into motivation. She co-founded the Women’s Rights Project at the ACLU in 1972, where she argued landmark cases before the Supreme Court. Using a careful, incremental strategy, she challenged laws that discriminated on the basis of sex, often by representing male plaintiffs to expose the absurdity of gender-based stereotypes. Her victories laid the foundation for a more equal society.

Appointed to the Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton in 1993, Ginsburg became known for her sharp legal mind, precise writing, and principled opinions. While often in the minority on a conservative court, her dissents became rallying cries for progressives. In cases like Ledbetter v. Goodyear, she highlighted the persistence of workplace discrimination and called on Congress to act, which it eventually did.

Beyond her jurisprudence, Ginsburg became a pop culture figure, dubbed the “Notorious RBG” by admirers who celebrated her toughness, intellect, and style. She inspired generations of young people, particularly women, to pursue careers in law and public service.

Ginsburg belongs in the Good Trouble Makers Hall of Fame because she embodied the spirit of challenging injustice through intellect and perseverance. Her life’s work dismantled barriers, expanded rights, and inspired countless others to believe that the law could be a tool for equality.