Former Clerk Shares Wholesome Story Of RBG & Fantasy Baseball 'Trash Talk'

Author image for Ada Elder
Ada Elder
Sep 21, 2020 1:00 PM EDT

It was a somber weekend for much of the United States after the news of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death broke on Friday. The 87 year old judge was a champion for women's rights, and had become somewhat of a cult figure in recent years. Many devotees shared somber, wordy, and often beautiful tributes to their hero, highlighting her accomplishments and struggles as a woman in politics. But it's a warm and silly Twitter thread from one of Ginsburg's former clerks, Scott Hershovitz, that really made us feel something. 

The thread, which involves some "friendly" fantasy baseball competition, shows a side of RBG that's a little more personal than most. A quiet but feisty mischief that we assume only those closest to her were privy to witness. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did. 

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  • 01
    Text - Scott Hershovitz @shershovitz Today, a happy RBG memory - the time I talked her into talking trash. In OT06, the clerks had a fantasy baseball league. Some chambers had teams. Some individual clerks did. And Justice Alito wanted a team - for himself, not his clerks. 1/11
    via @shershovitz
  • 02
    Text - Scott Hershovitz @shershovitz In the last week of the term, the Ginsburg clerks were matched against Alito's team. RBG was on the losing end a lot that term. Not this time. We destroyed him: 10-0. 2/11 11:32 AM · 9/20/20 · Twitter Web App
    via @shershovitz
  • 03
    Text - Scott Hershovitz @shershovitz The next day, I went to see RBG in her office. I explained that her clerks were playing fantasy baseball, against other clerks -- and Justice Alito. And I described, in some detail, the sheer dominance our team had displayed. 3/11
    via @shershovitz
  • 04
    Text - Scott Hershovitz @shershovitz She looked at me like I was insane. Which, I was. The end of the Court's term is kind of busy. Then I said, "Justice, I took the liberty of typing up a memo, which you might want to send Justice Alito." And I slid it across her desk. 4/11
    via @shershovitz
  • 05
    Text - Scott Hershovitz @shershovitz She stooped over and studied it for what seemed like forever. Then she looked up and said, "What is fantasy baseball?" So I started over. (I think that's the only time I had to tell her something twice.) 5/11 11:32 AM · 9/20/20 · Twitter Web App
    via @shershovitz
  • 06
    Text - Scott Hershovitz @shershovitz Back she went to reading. The memo was all of tWo sentences. But she looked it over like an opinion. Then she smiled and said, "I'll sign it." 6/11 11:32 AM · 9/20/20 · Twitter Web App >
    via @shershovitz
  • 07
    Text - Scott Hershovitz @shershovitz "Copies to the Conference?" I asked. And she said yes. So copies were soon hand delivered to every justice. 7/11 11:32 AM · 9/20/20 · Twitter Web App
    via @shershovitz
  • 08
    Text - Scott Hershovitz @shershovitz The memo said: Dear Sam, My law clerks inform me that last week their fantasy baseball team defeated yours by a score of 10-0.I know you are busy, but we expect more, even from the junior Justice. Respectfully, Ruth 8/11 11:32 AM 9/20/20 Twitter Web App >
    via @shershovitz
  • 09
    Text - Scott Hershovitz @shershovitz A short while later, Justice Alito replied. He acknowledged that RBG was entitled to gloat. But he added that, with the end of term, he planned to dedicate more time to his team, so our success wouldn't last long. 9/11 11:32 AM · 9/20/20 · Twitter Web App
    via @shershovitz
  • 10
    Text - Scott Hershovitz @shershovitz Shortly after that, an Alito clerk called to complain – the Justice had assigned him to manage his team. 10/11 11:32 AM · 9/20/20 · Twitter Web App
    via @shershovitz
  • 11
    Text - Scott Hershovitz @shershovitz RBG chuckled when I told her. That's the part of her that didn't often come across in public. She wasn't beyond a bit of mischief. 11/11 11:32 AM - 9/20/20 · Twitter Web App
    via @shershovitz

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