Judges are People Too
The day I got called to the Bar, I distinctly recall the feeling of putting on my robes. It was a feeling of responsibility and of honour. I felt like a slightly different person, someone charged with maintaining the integrity of our profession. Living up to those expectations is something I think we are reminded of every time we put on our robes, if not everyday in the office. What I’ve come to learn is that the robes speak to others the same way they spoke to me. They are a symbol of our profession, and by putting them on, others acknowledge our role as advocates. The Judges, by putting on their robes, take on an even greater role, and in my experience subscribe to the old adage; “With power comes great responsibility”.
When inside a courtroom, dressed in our robes and asking the Court to assist our clients, it almost becomes easy to forget that outside of those storied walls, all of us, including the judges, have our personal quirks, unique interests and particular motivations. The Supreme Court Historical Society an American private non-profit organization dedicated to the collection and preservation of the History of the Supreme Court of the United States, has recently released a cookbook, which in my view demonstrates clearly the humanity of those charged with one of society’s greatest roles.
The cookbook is a very personal tribute to the husband of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Justice Ginsburg’s husband, Marty Ginsburg, a lawyer, professor and amateur chef, passed away last year of cancer. Several spouses of the Justices, under the spearheading of Martha-Ann Alito, the wife of Justice Samuel Alito, gathered recipes and traditions to bring the book to publication. After review of an article on CNN, it seems that the book tells a story that goes beyond the recipes it includes. It tells the story of Judges and their families, and by reading between the lines, some of their quirks. This is a rare glimpse into the lives of those making some of the most important decisions south of the border, and yet, a sure indication that our personalities are not checked at the door.
Even in litigation, as with in all aspects of life, it’s important to remember that everyone in the room carries their own unique experiences. At the end of the day, we all have to go home and make dinner.
Thanks for reading,
Nadia M. Harasymowycz - Click here for more information on Nadia Harasymowycz.
