Elderly Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has made it clear that she intends to remain on the bench for the foreseeable future, likely in the hope of outlasting President Donald Trump’s term in office.
But in her advanced age, some are questioning whether Ginsburg still retains the sort of sharp mental capacity required of a Supreme Court justice — particularly after an awkward interview at a women’s event. Ginsburg was forced to borrow a pocket Constitution from an audience member after she forgot the words of the 14th Amendment.
The Daily Wire reported that on August 26, Ginsburg was taking part in a question and answer session at the National Women’s Party conference when she was asked about the Equal Rights Amendment, specifically as to the precedent set around it and why it was still needed today.
Where’s my Constitution?
Ginsburg immediately began to search around for her purse, which an aide from the front row quickly brought to her, after which Ginsburg said, “Let me see if I can find my pocket Constitution.”
As she fumbled around inside her purse in search of the missing Constitution, Ginsburg said, “There’s a problem with the 14th Amendment.”
Unable to find her Constitution inside the large purse, a member of the audience offered up their own pocket Constitution for Ginsburg to peruse for the amendment in question, which the aide quickly delivered.
Issue with the 14th Amendment
After flipping through the small book for a moment, Ginsburg slowly began to explain that even though the first section of the amendment was “fine,” as it contained the equal protection clause, she took issue with the wording of the second section of the amendment.
Specifically, she objected to the inclusion of the word “male” to describe citizens deprived of their rights by a state, presumably as the term might not be viewed as inclusive of women … a patently ridiculous argument.
The interviewer and members of the audience couldn’t help but laugh, perhaps nervously, as the 85-year-old woman struggled to find and read the Constitution, much less explain in an understandable manner the message she was attempting to get across.
Watch below:
While speaking to the National Woman’s Party on 08/26/18, an audience member had to give Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg a copy of the Constitution because she lost hers and couldn’t remember what the 14th Amendment said.
Ted Cruz memorized the Constitution as a teen. pic.twitter.com/CCD9J2kLQR
— Ryan Saavedra 🇺🇸 (@RealSaavedra) October 5, 2018
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There is little doubt among those with a modicum of intellectual honesty that Ginsburg has lost the edge she once had.
The Supreme Court is a tough job that requires a sharp intellect and, presumably, a solid knowledge of the Constitution … a deep knowledge that doesn’t necessitate fumbling around for a pocket Constitution to double-check the wording of an amendment one is purported to be rather authoritative on.