Justice, Supreme Court of the United States
Resident, 1977
1977: writing “Women, Men, and the Constitution: Key Supreme Court Rulings,” commentary about her cases
“In the summer of 1977, I had the good fortune to spend a month at the Bellagio Center. I was, at the time, a member of the Columbia University Law School faculty, a general counsel to the American Civil Liberties Union, and supervisor of the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project.
“Superintending and participating in a series of cases designed to advance the equal citizenship stature of men and women occupied all my waking hours, other than those needed to prepare for and teach classes at Columbia. I planned, during my weeks at Bellagio, to reflect on my litigation endeavors and to write about the cases, explaining their genesis, the principles at stake, strategic judgments concerning the content and organization of briefs, and the eventual Supreme Court decisions. At the Villa, I enjoyed the quiet time needed to compose my commentary, which was published some months after my stay. . . .
“I experienced such good company, complementing the setting and the amenities. The others sojourning at the Villa were knowledgeable in diverse fields and genuinely interested in each other’s projects. We had sessions about twice a week at which one or another of us would describe our summer project and invite conversation, comments, and suggestions. Conversation was also lively at lunch, dinner, and outside during the cocktail hour. . . . The conferences that convened each weekend brought new people to the dinner table, and new ideas to consider and discuss.
“All good things must come to an end, however. I left the Villa wishing I could have prolonged my stay two weeks more. But work was waiting at home, and I approached it with renewed energy. “
