Some Reflections on Imperfection

January 2007

Some Reflections on Imperfection
ITEM DETAILS
Type: Law review article
Author: Martin D. Ginsburg
Source: Ariz. St. L. J.
Citation: 39 Ariz. St. L. J. 949 (2007)

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SOME REFLECTIONS ON IMPERFECTION

Martin D. Ginsburgt

On a few occasions I have been privileged to introduce a United States Supreme Court Justice-always the same one-but never until today has any Justice been willing to introduce me. It is a great honor, richly undeserved.

It was never my good fortune to meet Willard Pedrick in person, but because I am a tax type and he was a many-things-including-tax person, I did meet Dean Pedrick in thoughtful, extremely readable law review articles, in particular articles that addressed transfer tax issues.1 But I read him first when, in pre-dean, professorial days, he wrote from the perspective of tort law an early and persuasive criticism of Senator Joseph McCarthy.2 It is a special honor to present the Willard Pedrick Lecture.

I fear my wife's demonstrated unwillingness to speak publicly in my behalf is my own fault. Back in 1980, shortly after Ruth was appointed to her first judicial office as a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, we attended a large social function. An important looking fellow we did not know came up and, encouraged to "say hello to Judge Ginsburg," stuck out a manicured hand, turned to me, and said with much enthusiasm, "Oh, Judge Ginsburg, I've heard so much about you!"

I grasped his hand with the greatest warmth and responded, "Actually, she's Judge Ginsburg, but I remain hopeful." Ruth has refused to introduce me to strangers ever since.

Lest you think this 1980 experience too

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