The Teen View Forum

Austen Wyche: Ruth Bader Ginsberg was truly a monumental American hero. From her legal career working for the American Civil Liberties Union to her arguments in front of the Supreme Court, she has always fought to preserve the rights of Americans. Her decisions to legalize marriage equality, preserve female reproductive rights, allow DACA students to remain in the county, retain the Affordable Care Act, and much more have helped the United States become the country it is today. She has decided consequential judgments preserving Affirmative action, allowing workplace sex discrimination to be protected under the Civil Rights Act, and making sure that no one can be fired based on who they love. In the aftermath of her passing, the Senate should honor her final wish and not confirm a judge until the new President is sworn in January 2021. It is only fair due to the treatment that Merrick Garland received when he was appointed by President Obama in 2016. To confirm a judge would be completely irresponsible to the institution of democracy. Amy Coney Barrett would be a disservice to all of the hard work Justice Ginsberg accomplished across her legal career. To preserve her legacy and justice she achieved, we must vote in November for a President that will appoint an appropriate successor. The rights that we take for granted as Americans, our natural rights, and civil liberties are on the ballot.

Shreya Sunil: Ruth Bader Ginsberg was explicitly one of the best Supreme Court Justices that America has ever seen. She left an everlasting mark on the people of America, never shying away from fighting for what she was passionate about and believed in the most. Her pivotal role in gender equality, legislative procedures, and others has shaped America into what it is today. I believe Congress should honor her last wish to allow the next president to choose her successor. This is because as the 2020 elections are approaching, there is big uncertainty about the results of the election that it's not fair that our current president gets to choose our next Supreme Justice who will rule for life. To honor Ginsberg and her extreme focus to preserve the rights and make sure her work is appreciated, we as a country need to come together and vote for our next president and future Supreme Court justice.

Alex Butler: The positive, progressive impact Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life work has had on our country is massive. The changes she helped to bring about as Supreme Court Justice was much needed, impactful, and most likely would not have come to be without her help. Her work to secure and protect the rights of women and LGBTQ+ people is something I personally respect deeply. Her dedication to working for equality was powerful, and it changed our country for the better. Her legacy as a Supreme Court Justice and role model is something to be protected and preserved. A new supreme court justice should not be chosen, appointed, or put into the office until the election. Our country deserves to choose the leader to appoint a new justice in RBG’s place, not doing so could have catastrophic effects on the protection of rights of so many people in our country. Ruth Bader Ginsburg left a legacy behind of progressive, necessary, powerful change. We owe it to her to let our next president, whoever that may be, choose someone to take her place in the Supreme Court.

Khushi Patel: Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death was a shock to me as my life as a female has been heavily affected by the decisions and policies she’d passed as a Supreme Court Justice. Without her authority, women’s rights to own a credit card and have mortgages in the Equal Credit Opportunity Act passed in 1974 would’ve never occurred. Women would’ve never had reproductive rights, a movement towards equal pay, and policies that would’ve protected them when pregnant at the workplace. She played a huge role for women and played as a strong representative of the female voice for years. Not only for women, but Ginsburg also played a huge role in securing same-sex marriage since 2015. I hope that people are respectful during these times, and that a new Supreme Court Justice is chosen only after the election. The election is necessary to take place as it would only be appropriate to give the people a chance to possibly vote in someone that will secure the advancements and progressions made for women and the LGBTQ+ community over the years.

Vaishali Ojha: Ruth Bader Ginsburg has influenced my life greatly in such a positive way, and for that, I am personally very grateful. As a Supreme Court Justice, she has established laws that have paved the way for gender equality and changed the country for the better. Because of her, women and the LGBTQ+ community have been allowed the equality they deserve as human beings. She was fully devoted to making everyone in this country feel welcomed as a full and equal citizen. She fought towards everyone’s equal rights. Just the fact that whether to appoint a new Supreme Court Justice now or later is a debate is disrespectful to her legacy. We need to honor her dying wish to not be replaced until the next President is elected. We owe it to her after everything she has done for this country.

Participants in The Forum: