Stars and Political Leaders Reflect on Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Legacy in Heartfelt Tributes

The former president wrote:

Sixty years ago, Ruth Bader Ginsburg applied to be a Supreme Court clerk. She’d studied at two of our finest law schools and had ringing recommendations. But because she was a woman, she was rejected. Ten years later, she sent her first brief to the Supreme Court – which led it to strike down a state law based on gender discrimination for the first time. And then, for nearly three decades, as the second woman ever to sit on the highest court in the land, she was a warrior for gender equality – someone who believed that equal justice under law only had meaning if it applied to every single American.

Over a long career on both sides of the bench – as a relentless litigator and an incisive jurist – Justice Ginsburg helped us see that discrimination on the basis of sex isn’t about an abstract ideal of equality; that it doesn’t only harm women; that it has real consequences for all of us. It’s about who we are – and who we can be.

Justice Ginsburg inspired the generations who followed her, from the tiniest trick-or-treaters to law students burning the midnight oil to the most powerful leaders in the land. Michelle and I admired her greatly, we’re profoundly thankful for the legacy she left this country, and we offer our gratitude and our condolences to her children and grandchildren tonight.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg fought to the end, through her cancer, with unwavering faith in our democracy and its ideals. That’s how we remember her. But she also left instructions for how she wanted her legacy to be honored.

Four and a half years ago, when Republicans refused to hold a hearing or an up-or-down vote on Merrick Garland, they invented the principle that the Senate shouldn’t fill an open seat on the Supreme Court before a new president was sworn in.

A basic principle of the law – and of everyday fairness – is that we apply rules with consistency, and not based on what’s convenient or advantageous in the moment. The rule of law, the legitimacy of our courts, the fundamental workings of our democracy all depend on that basic principle. As votes are already being cast in this election, Republican Senators are now called to apply that standard. The questions before the Court now and in the coming years – with decisions that will determine whether or not our economy is fair, our society is just, women are treated equally, our planet survives, and our democracy endures – are too consequential to future generations for courts to be filled through anything less than an unimpeachable process.

The Duchess of Sussex said in a statement:

With an incomparable and indelible legacy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg will forever be known as a woman of brilliance, a Justice of courage, and a human of deep conviction. She has been a true inspiration to me since I was a girl. Honor her, remember her, act for her.

The Saturday Night Live star, who often portrayed Ruth in sketches, said in a statement:

For so many of us, Justice Ginsburg was a real-life superhero: a beacon of hope, a warrior for justice, a robed crusader who saved the day time and again.

Playing her on SNL was a profound joy because I could always feel the overwhelming love and gratitude that the audience had for her. It was one of the great honors of my life to meet Justice Ginsburg, to shake her hand, and to thank her for her lifetime of service to this country.

The On the Basis of Sex star said in a statement:

Ruth Bader Ginsburg gave us hope, a public figure who stood for integrity and justice – a responsibility she did not wear lightly. She will be missed not only as a beacon of light in these difficult times but for her razor-sharp wit and extraordinary humanity. She taught us all so much. I will miss her deeply.

The singer wrote:

She was small in stature but even the tallest looked up to her. Her voice was soft but her message rang loud and clear and will echo forever. Thank you, RBG. Rest In Peace. Respectfully, Dolly Parton.

The singer wrote:

The Notorious. RBG………..This Woman-this Fearless Human did more for Women and this Country than most people know………….

She can never be replaced but lets hope for the sake of The Supreme Court and the Judicial System in America, That there will be no re-elections until Trump is out of office. Rest In Power Ruth Bader Ginsburg 🙏🏼 #ruthbaderginsburg

The actress wrote:

The baton has been passed
The fight MUST get stronger.
I am forever thankful Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The actress wrote:

RIP JUSTICE GINSBERG ⭐️ She utilized EVERY moment of her career fighting for equity. She stood up for us and fought for us tirelessly, regardless of her personal circumstances. Her impact has shaped the course of history and I hope she rests well knowing entire generations are taking up her work⭐️ #RIP #RGB

The actress wrote:

Rest in eternal peace. Notorious RBG.
May her fight carry on in all of us. 🙏🏾
Ruth Bader Ginsburg 🖤

The actress wrote:

Rest In Peace And Power

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the demure firebrand who in her 80s became a legal, cultural, and feminist icon has died from complications from cancer.

Just days before her death, as her strength waned, Ginsburg dictated this statement to her granddaughter Clara Spera: “My most fervent wish is that i I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.”

Architect of the legal fight for women’s rights in the 1970s, Ginsburg subsequently served 27 years on the nation’s highest court, becoming its most prominent member. Her death will inevitably set in motion what promises to be a nasty and tumultuous political battle over who will succeed her, and it thrusts the Supreme Court vacancy into the spotlight of the presidential campaign.

The actor wrote:

RBG, Rest well & thank you. I am praying & praying & WORKING to do my best to ensure that 2020 is rock bottom – that all of this chaos is worth it because we come out better & more liberated than we’ve ever been. We ALL MUST put in WORK by VOTING & FIGHTING & ORGANIZING. ✊🏽

LINK in my stories to take action to join efforts to organize to block these fascists from filling #RBG’s seat. #RBG

The fashion designer wrote:

So saddened by this great loss ! Supreme Court Justice Ms Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Was a hero that fought tirelessly for justice for all people. God Bless her and prayers up for her family❤️

The actress wrote:

Legacy lasts forever. Rest In Peace to the one and only, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. May we all follow in her footsteps and fight continuously for what is right.