"Suppose I had gotten a job as a permanent associate. Probably I would have climbed up the ladder and today I would be a retired partner. So often in life, things that you regard as an impediment turn out to be great good fortune"

Ruth became the second woman in US history to serve on the Supreme Court, when she was sworn in as associate justice on August 10, 1993 ~ with President Bill Clinton in attendance. Some in Clinton's administration had worried that Ruth would have a difficult time getting through her Senate hearings due to her reluctance to answer questions about her views on certain topics. But in the end, Ruth replied with candor to most questions, while retaining her impartiality for future decisions.

White House Photograph Office |

A behind-the-scenes look at the 9 personalities that make up the Supreme Court, written by New Yorker writer + CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin, who interviewed the justices. His book explores the evolution of the court from the Reagan era through its controversial decision in Bush v. Gore.

Brittany Hogan | CC-BY 2.0 |