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Which Supreme Court Justice Said, ‘If I Had My Way There Would Be No Death Penalty’?

Feb. 6, 2013 1:14pm Erica Ritz

Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Opera Radio Station: If I Had My Way, There Would Be No Death Penalty

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg listens to a question during a speaking engagement at Yale University in New Haven, Conn., Friday, Oct. 19, 2012. (Photo: AP)

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was speaking about her love of opera music with New York’s WQXR radio program earlier this week when, somehow, the death penalty came up.

According to Think Progress, she said she would abolish it if she was the one making the rules:

“Every time I have to participate in a case where someone has been sentenced to death, I feel that same conflict. But…when you’re with a group of nine people, the highest court in the land, you can’t pretend to be king or queen. If I had my way, there would be no death penalty. But the death penalty for now, is the law. And I could say, ‘Well, I won’t participate in those cases.’ But then I can’t be an influence.” [Emphasis added]

Ginsburg has long opposed the death penalty, but has typically shied away from “absolute” statements like some of her predecessors in order to remain a voice on the matter.

But this is not the first time she has spoken out against American laws.

Last February, for instance, she told a group of Egyptians that they should look to the South African Constitution rather than the one she has sworn to uphold in crafting the post-Arab Spring law of the land.

The rest of the WQXR interview largely focused on Ginsburg’s love of music, Thomson Reuters adds.

“People ask me, ‘If you could be whatever you want to be, what would you be?’ And my first answer is not, ‘A great lawyer.’ It is, ‘I would be a great diva,’” she joked. “But I totally lack that talent, so the next best thing is the law.”

Here’s audio of the interview (skip to around 10:45)

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Comments (47)

PZWLB
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 4:56pm
No society that would elect Obama and free OJ should have the death penalty.

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- The_Jerk
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 6:03pm
  Ruth Bader Ginsburg is another culture changing, Jewish progressive. Don’t know how many examples it takes to convince a fool, but obviously it takes a lot.
  
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thegreatcarnac
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 3:29pm
The Supreme court is a political animal and is not fair nor does it follow the constitution. With libs like Ginsberg on it the court has become nothing. The court swings back and forth. It depends on who dies and who is president for it’s current position. The SCOTUS is not fair nor balanced and it changes positions from year to year. This court needs to be enlarged to include one elected from each state and maybe the president could be a tie breaker if one is needed. An appointed court is not going to follow the constitiution. It will follow politics.

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jungle J
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 2:59pm
Don’t fear her fear the millions that adore her.

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Patriot72
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 2:43pm
One of most distrurbing points in her comments comes from “…But the death penalty for now, is the law. And I could say, ‘Well, I won’t participate in those cases.’ But then I can’t be an influence.”

This is another flagrant admission on her part towards judicial activism. Supreme Court Justices are there to interpet and enforce the Constitutional laws of the land, not ‘influence’ it to further their personal political ends. If she continues to act in defiance of her role and duty as a Supreme Court Justice she should resign. Since Justice Ginsberg is openly indifferent to her responsibilities to the Court, she needs to be removed. Supreme Court justices can be impeached if the legislative body has the will to do so…removing her might take a while due to that last point.

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- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 2:48pm
  Exactly, she is one more activist justice and needs to go.
  
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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 3:01pm
  Well, we all know what happened when the liberals in NY let murderer William Spengle out of prison early. I’ve always seen such actions as more or less a sentence upon the public at large to release such dangerous criminals out.
  
  Report this comment
- cogito ergo sum
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 4:31pm
  @Patriot
  
  Should I assume that Justice Scalia recuses himself when cases dealing with laws he doesn’t agree with are presented? If your point is true for all judges, he too must be accused of activism, no? All justices’ decisions are influenced by their beliefs. Ginsburg, like Scalia, is no different. The real question is if their ruling is supported by the Constitution.
  
  Cogito Ergo Sum
  
  Report this comment
LoneRanger26
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 2:39pm
We have enabled and legitamized the “nuts” in this once great country. Over the course of my 60+ years in this life I have become acutely aware that “we” are our most difficult and challenging problem. How some people can have such a skewed view of right and wrong, e.g. Justice(?) Ginsburg, is beyond my understanding. But even more troubling is that she can be placed in such a powerful position.

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AmericanStrega
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 2:25pm
I have nothing nice to say about this woman, so I will say nothing.

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DEFCON4
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 2:22pm
Justice Ginsburg is on record as having endorsed lowering the age of consent to “12″.

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dustbunnieskill
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 2:17pm
She should step down.Prisions are overstocked with killers

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John.Galt
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 2:15pm
This is nothing. The lib-tards banned DDT with fake science and fear mongering. About 30 MILLION HUMAN DIED AS A RESULT….

AND THEY DON’T CARE…. (probably because most of the dead are BLACK, and all lib-tards are RACISTS).

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bdandsl
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:51pm
But murdering unborn babies is ok? These liberals are so assbackwards!

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- Unbelievable
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 2:07pm
  Isn’t that the truth!
  
  Report this comment
hi
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:44pm
Yet she believes in mutilating babies right before they are born.

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:55pm
  Exactly my first thought as soon as I opened the story.
  
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oceanrcr
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:43pm
Yet she cares nothing for an inocent viable baby in the womb, and would be happy to see it dismembered! This pig shoulda been gassed 70 years ago!!

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searching for the Truth
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:42pm
Guess where the most favorite bottled water comes from ?

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searching for the Truth
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:39pm
Disturbing , considering Roe v.s. Wade.

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SquidVetOhio
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:37pm
If only she cared that much about the victims.

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Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:34pm
Of course Medusa wouldn’t want the death penalty, and has anyone ever noticed Ginsberg always looks like someone shoved a cat turd under her nose?

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- naughtycal
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:43pm
  Then she can pay out her own pocket (not the tax payers) to house clothes and feed these animals deemed no longer fit to breath air by a jury.
  
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- progressiveslayer
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:46pm
  You gave me some chuckles thanks. She’s a worthless progressive and they’re all a vile lot and I’m convinced they’re here to put us normal humans through hell on earth.
  
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- Gonzo
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:52pm
  Looks like an insect to me.
  
  Report this comment
- Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 2:05pm
  @Gonzo:
  I was thinking the same thing, a Praying Mantis.
  
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watashbuddyfriend
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:33pm
No more POTUS recommendations, nor Lifetime appointments, and After Four, maybe Eight, Must Vacate. The After Four, maybe Eight, Must Vacate, and this shall apply to all three Branches: E., L., and J.!

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strawberry411a
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:33pm
Wow am I ever surprised.

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Gonzo
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:32pm
She feels guilty over a murderer being executed, but feels nothing for the unborn butchered on a daily basis in this country.

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- BARRYS_BEARD
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:43pm
  Liberals. Go figure.
  
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- tzion
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:55pm
  “One who is merciful to those who are cruel will end up being cruel to those who are merciful.”
  -Jewish proverb
  
  Report this comment
Dudley Do-Right
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:31pm
The fifth amendment or due process clause states, “no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. What do you suppose they’re talking about?

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- Ben__Franklin
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:42pm
  “Due Process” you know like Obama said – our Government shoves a big hellfire missile up your rear from a Drone Strike when you disagree with him.
  
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- kaydeebeau
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 2:42pm
  How about it means – after the due process of the law has happened – you have been convicted and judged guilty by a jury – you can be deprived of your life (put to death), your liberty (put in jail) your property (pay a fine)? What do you think it means?
  
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00100111
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:30pm
This is the same joke of a “justice” who said countries shouldn’t look the the US Constitution as an example. That they should base them off of South Africa’s very socialist “constitution”. Yeah, she can’t be “retired” fast enough.

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jackact
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:29pm
What about the two closeted lesbians on the SCOTUS?
Do they also support the rights of the criminals over the victims too?
TERM LIMITS NOW!

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banjarmon
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:26pm
The only way to deter crime is to make the punishment worse that the crime! Bring back PUBLIC HANGINGS!!

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- WillG
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 2:50pm
  Agreed.
  
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media-bias-steals-elections
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:25pm
I am ashamed that I was born into this world, where the Supreme Court actually ruled that women, who are incapable of birth by themselves, were granted legal rights under twisting the law so that they could murder their own children, and then Congress thought it was too much trouble to do anything about it?

Go ahead, you contemplate your fantasy about death penalties, meanwhile abortion is legal, those kids do not get a trial by jury, those kids will not meet the President, do they?

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barber2
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:21pm
I find it strange that people who are opposed to the death penalty are not opposed to abortion.

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- Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:32pm
  Some animals are more equal than others.
  
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- Ben__Franklin
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:32pm
  You should not be by now. Its the Liberal mind set. They will protest the killing of a Child Rapist Murderer and then turn and protest for the Abortion of a Child.
  
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- strawberry411a
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:36pm
  Yes I agree. It appears to be another power issue for the libs but i can’ explain it either.
  
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- SovereignSoul
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:36pm
  The inverse is often true, as well.
  
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- FlagWavingPatriot
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:43pm
  Exactly.
  
  These are the same people who feign tears over 20 dead children at Sandy Hook. They are the same people who feign outrage when terrorists are interrogated. And they’re the same same people who march with signs to protest US casualties in Iraq/Afghanistan. Yet they endorse the murder of 2,200 defenseless little babies each and every day.
  
  More babies will be murdered in the next 72 hours in abortion clinics than all troops that died in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.
  
  Disgusting hypocrites.
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:51pm
  FLAG: Yes. And Obama’s absolute hypocrisy when he hypes his gun restriction agenda with that ” if we can save but one life, we are obligated ..” while the Left allows for the killings of thousands of innocent , but ” inconvenient , ” babies daily… The Democrats are just Liars , and twisted Deceivers .
  
  Report this comment

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