Official Statement from Mormon Women for Ethical Government on the Passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth Bader Ginsburg spent her career fighting to ensure that the American reality aligned more closely with its governing constitutional ideals. As a women’s organization, we recognize that her lifetime of advocacy made our work possible; her methodical and determined fight for equality and justice expanded our opportunities. 

In this moment of tension and crisis, we most particularly mourn the loss of a public servant who understood democratic norms and made deep personal sacrifices to defend them, even as cancer ravaged her body. She was consistent in her defense of institutions and worked within them to achieve change. She once said, “We care about this institution more than our individual egos and we are all devoted to keeping the Supreme Court in the place that it is, as a co-equal third branch of government.” Following her lead, we will work to effect change while preserving the health and welfare of the political community as a whole.

MWEG believes in protecting institutions such as the Supreme Court from damage due to hyper-partisanship. Likewise, every citizen’s fundamental right to vote in a secure and fair election deserves the same level of protection. We will continue to focus our energy on protecting that right as we approach a critical election. We seek to do so with the sort of kindness, intelligence, and determination Justice Ginsburg exemplified.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg taught women how to push beyond the constraints placed upon them. She modeled what it means to have a commitment to justice and to build a life around family, friendship, and meaningful service. While no single individual can take her place, her life’s work is best measured by the millions of women she empowered who will pick up where she left off. The women of MWEG are committed to continuing this work and taking up her challenge to “fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”