On November 16, 2009, Emily Campbell journeyed to Washington, D.C. to attend an awards ceremony and reception in honor of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who was being indoctrinated as an Honorary Life Fellow of the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association. The event took place in the beautifully adorned and historical West Conference Room at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Justice Ginsburg took questions from the attendees after the presentation. Most of her remarks were very personal, including commenting on missing her colleague Sandra Day O’Connor and noting her more than 50-year marriage, as well as expressing love for, and pride in, the achievements of her family.
Justice Ginsburg has had an illustrious professional career. She has worked as a pioneer in the field of women’s rights and has served courageously on the bench. While for Justice Ginsburg the award will simply be added to a long list of many interesting and impressive achievements she has made, for the attendees, including Ms. Campbell, the honor was all theirs. “She was so gracious in greeting each one of us who her shook her hand,” Ms. Campbell said. “She is an inspiration to all lawyers – especially to female attorneys.”
Ms. Campbell was invited to attend this important awards presentation because of her role in the Federal Bar Association, as Chair of its Committee on National Security and Counter-Terrorism for the Southern District of New York Chapter.