The demanding nature of serving on the highest judicial body in the United States has long been a subject of fascination for legal scholars and the general public alike. When we consider the immense responsibility placed upon the shoulders of Supreme Court Justices, we begin to understand the extraordinary personal sacrifices required to fulfill such a monumental role. The position demands not merely legal expertise, but an unwavering commitment to thorough preparation, exhaustive research, and meticulous attention to every detail that crosses one’s desk. For those who have served with distinction, the role transcends the boundaries of a conventional profession, becoming instead an all-consuming dedication to the principles of justice and constitutional interpretation.
Among the most remarkable figures to have graced the Supreme Court bench, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg stands as a towering example of tireless devotion to her craft. Throughout her extraordinary 27 years of service on the nation’s highest court, she cultivated a well-deserved reputation for approaching each case with unparalleled thoroughness and preparation. Her colleagues, clerks, and court observers consistently marveled at her capacity to absorb vast quantities of legal material while maintaining an acute understanding of the nuances embedded within each argument and brief. This wasn’t merely professional competence—it represented a profound philosophical approach to the judicial role itself.
When Justice Ginsburg spoke candidly about her limited rest during the Court’s active periods, she provided a rare window into the extraordinary demands faced by Supreme Court Justices. Her acknowledgment of sacrificing sleep when the Court was in session wasn’t a complaint or an expression of martyrdom. Rather, it served as a straightforward description of the reality she embraced willingly. This transparency about her work habits revealed someone who fundamentally rejected the notion that her position was simply an elevated career achievement. For Ginsburg, sitting on the Supreme Court represented a sacred calling—a responsibility that demanded every ounce of her intellectual and physical energy. The personal toll she accepted as necessary collateral in her pursuit of getting every decision absolutely right demonstrates a level of dedication that continues to resonate powerfully with legal professionals and ordinary citizens who value justice and excellence.
To fully appreciate the significance of Justice Ginsburg’s candid admission about her sleep deprivation, one must first grasp the unique operational rhythm of the Supreme Court. Source Unlike lower courts that maintain relatively consistent schedules throughout the year, the Supreme Court functions according to a distinctive pattern of “sittings” and “recesses” that creates intense periods of concentrated activity followed by intervals of different, though equally demanding, work.
When the Court enters its sitting periods, the Justices engage in the crucial work of hearing oral arguments from the attorneys representing both sides of the cases under consideration. These sitting periods typically span approximately two weeks at a time, creating compressed windows during which an enormous amount of judicial business must be conducted. The intensity of these periods cannot be overstated—each Justice must arrive at oral arguments fully prepared to engage with the most complex legal questions, having thoroughly digested the extensive written briefs submitted by the parties involved.
The preparation required before each oral argument session is staggering in scope. Justices receive voluminous briefs that can run to hundreds of pages for a single case. These documents contain intricate legal reasoning, citations to precedent, constitutional arguments, and detailed factual backgrounds. A conscientious Justice—and Ginsburg certainly fell into this category—cannot simply skim these materials. Each argument must be carefully evaluated, each citation verified, each logical thread followed to its conclusion. This level of thorough review requires dedicated hours of concentrated reading and analysis.
Beyond the preparation for oral arguments, the sitting periods also involve extensive discussions among the Justices as they begin to formulate their positions on cases. Following oral arguments, the Justices meet in conference to discuss cases and take preliminary votes. These conferences require additional preparation, as each Justice must be ready to articulate their reasoning and engage with the perspectives of their colleagues. Furthermore, the process of drafting opinions—whether majority opinions, concurrences, or dissents—begins during these periods, adding yet another layer of intellectual labor to the already overwhelming workload.
Justice Ginsburg’s approach to this demanding schedule was legendary within the Court. Her habit of working into the early morning hours, frequently remaining at her desk until 4:00 AM, was not an occasional response to particularly challenging cases. Instead, this nocturnal work pattern represented her standard operational approach. She would then rise after only a few hours of rest to engage in her exercise routine, which she maintained with remarkable consistency even as she aged and faced health challenges. This punishing schedule was sustainable for her because she genuinely thrived on the intellectual stimulation and felt energized by the importance of the work itself.
The support structure in her personal life proved crucial to maintaining this demanding professional schedule. Her late husband, Martin Ginsburg, famously took on domestic responsibilities that allowed Ruth to focus her energy entirely on her judicial work. This partnership enabled her to devote the maximum possible attention to her cases without the additional burden of household management. The quote about limited sleep thus reflects not just personal stamina but also a life deliberately organized to prioritize judicial excellence above all other considerations.
Throughout her distinguished career, Justice Ginsburg demonstrated a refreshing willingness to engage with the media and the public in ways that many of her colleagues avoided. While maintaining appropriate discretion about pending cases and internal Court deliberations, she proved surprisingly forthcoming about her personal habits, work routines, and the practical realities of serving on the Supreme Court. This openness helped demystify the institution and made the Court’s work more accessible to ordinary Americans who might otherwise view the Justices as remote, untouchable figures.
Her frank discussion of sleep deprivation emerged in multiple interviews and profiles over the years. Journalists fascinated by her stamina and productivity would inevitably ask about her daily schedule, her health maintenance strategies, and how she managed to sustain such intense work habits well into her eighties. In response, she would matter-of-factly describe her late-night work sessions, explaining that the Court’s sitting periods simply demanded this level of commitment. She wanted the public to understand that the decisions emanating from the Supreme Court represented not just abstract legal reasoning but the product of exhaustive human effort.
What’s particularly striking about her characterization of limited sleep is the complete absence of self-pity or complaint. She never presented her work habits as a burden to be endured or a sacrifice that merited special recognition. Instead, she described them as the natural and necessary conditions for doing her job properly. This perspective reflected her fundamental view of judicial service—it was a privilege that came with responsibilities she accepted gladly. The late nights represented not an imposition but an opportunity to ensure that her contributions to the Court’s work met her own exacting standards.
Her meticulous attention to detail extended to every document that crossed her desk. She insisted on reading every page of the petitions submitted to the Court, refusing to rely solely on summaries prepared by clerks. This comprehensive approach required substantial time investment. Since her days were filled with oral arguments, conferences, meetings with clerks, and other official duties, the nighttime hours became her essential workspace for deep reading and analysis. Sleep, therefore, became a resource she consciously chose to minimize in favor of thorough preparation. This wasn’t recklessness or poor self-care in her view—it was a calculated decision about priorities.
As with many memorable statements from public figures, Justice Ginsburg’s words about sleep deprivation have been repeated, paraphrased, and occasionally distorted as they’ve circulated through various media channels. The precision of her original phrasing matters because it reveals important nuances about her experience. She specifically referenced getting little sleep “when the court is sitting”—a temporal qualifier that indicates she understood her work life had distinct rhythms and seasons.
This careful phrasing suggests that during the Court’s recess periods, when the Justices are not hearing oral arguments, she might have allowed herself slightly more rest, though she certainly continued working on opinion drafting and other judicial tasks during these intervals. The distinction reveals someone who was thoughtful about her language and precise in her descriptions. She wasn’t claiming to never sleep or presenting herself as superhuman—she was describing the specific demands of particular periods in the Court’s calendar.
Unfortunately, as quotes migrate across social media platforms and inspirational content websites, they often lose this specificity. Generic versions emerge that transform her measured statement into vague motivational slogans about working hard or sacrificing sleep for success. Some paraphrases you might encounter include broad declarations like “The work is never done” or “I don’t need sleep,” which fail to capture the particular context and nuance of her actual words.
These misattributions and oversimplifications do a disservice to Justice Ginsburg’s actual message. She wasn’t promoting sleeplessness as a general virtue or suggesting that everyone should deprive themselves of rest. Her statement was specifically about the demands of her particular role during particular periods. She accepted reduced sleep as a necessary condition of fulfilling her judicial responsibilities to her own satisfaction, not as an ideology to be universally applied.
The broader phenomenon of misattribution has affected many statements associated with Justice Ginsburg, particularly as she became a cultural icon later in her life. Social media accounts dedicated to motivation and inspiration frequently attach generic “hustle culture” quotes to her name, even when these statements bear little resemblance to her actual philosophy or words. Her authentic statements focused consistently on duty, responsibility, and the pursuit of justice—not on sleeplessness or overwork as ends in themselves. She viewed reduced rest as an unfortunate but necessary side effect of thorough preparation, not as something to be celebrated independently.
Justice Ginsburg’s candid acknowledgment of the personal toll of Supreme Court service had a significant humanizing effect on public perception of the Court. The Supreme Court, by design and tradition, maintains considerable distance from the American public. The Justices wear formal black robes, sit on an elevated bench, conduct proceedings with formal language and protocol, and generally maintain a dignified reserve in public appearances. This institutional formality serves important purposes, reinforcing the Court’s authority and the solemnity of its work. However, it can also make the Justices seem remote and disconnected from the everyday experiences of ordinary citizens.
When Justice Ginsburg spoke openly about struggling with fatigue and sacrificing sleep, she pierced this veil of formality and revealed the human effort underlying judicial decisions. Americans could suddenly envision a real person—someone who got tired, who fought to stay alert, who made personal sacrifices—behind the formal opinions and legal pronouncements. This revelation made the Court’s work more relatable and helped citizens understand that judicial decisions don’t emerge from detached, abstract reasoning but from the dedicated labor of real human beings wrestling with difficult questions.
This humanization contributed significantly to the remarkable “Notorious RBG” phenomenon that emerged during the final decade of her life. Younger generations, particularly young women, embraced Justice Ginsburg as an unlikely pop culture icon. Her image appeared on t-shirts, coffee mugs, and internet memes. Her workout routine became the subject of a book. Her collar collection inspired fashion commentary. And her work habits—particularly her legendary late nights and early mornings—became central to the narrative of her as a tireless fighter for justice.
The cultural phenomenon surrounding Justice Ginsburg represented something unusual in American public life: a Supreme Court Justice achieving rock star status. This celebrity was built not on charisma or showmanship but on respect for her work ethic, admiration for her legal mind, and appreciation for her persistence in the face of obstacles. The quote about limited sleep played a crucial role in constructing this public image. It provided concrete evidence that she wasn’t merely occupying a prestigious position—she was actively, continuously working at the highest level of intensity.
For young women entering the legal profession or considering legal careers, Justice Ginsburg’s example proved particularly inspiring. She demonstrated that women could reach the pinnacle of the legal world and could do so while maintaining uncompromising standards of excellence. Her willingness to sacrifice sleep to ensure thorough preparation sent a powerful message: success at the highest levels requires dedication that goes beyond normal working hours. For a generation of women who had been told they might need to choose between professional achievement and other life priorities, Ginsburg’s example suggested that with sufficient commitment and the right support structure, extraordinary achievement was possible.
To truly comprehend why Justice Ginsburg willingly accepted such limited sleep, we must examine the core values that animated her approach to judicial service. Her dedication wasn’t rooted in workaholism or an inability to delegate—it stemmed from a profound belief in the rule of law and an acute awareness of how Supreme Court decisions affected real people’s lives.
Justice Ginsburg understood that every case before the Court represented more than an abstract legal puzzle. Behind the formal case names and legal questions were actual human beings whose lives would be shaped by the Court’s ruling. A decision about employment discrimination affected workers’ livelihoods and dignity. A ruling on voting rights influenced citizens’ fundamental ability to participate in democracy. A determination about criminal procedure could mean the difference between freedom and incarceration for defendants. This awareness of the human stakes involved in judicial decision-making created an enormous sense of responsibility that she felt acutely.
This responsibility manifested as an inability to rest if she felt inadequately prepared. She could not in good conscience participate in oral arguments or cast votes in conference without having thoroughly absorbed all relevant materials and carefully considered all angles of the legal questions involved. For someone with her moral framework, cutting corners on preparation would have represented a betrayal of the people affected by the Court’s decisions. Sleep became expendable when weighed against the imperative of getting decisions right.
Her dissenting opinions exemplified this commitment to thoroughness. While majority opinions receive more immediate attention, Justice Ginsburg understood that dissents serve a crucial long-term function in legal development. A well-reasoned dissent can influence future courts, providing a roadmap for reconsidering precedents when circumstances change or when the composition of the Court shifts. She approached her dissents with particular care, crafting them not just to explain her disagreement with the majority but to speak to future generations of lawyers and judges who might revisit the issues.
This focus on dissents required additional labor beyond what was strictly necessary for fulfilling her judicial duties. She could have simply noted her dissent without opinion or written brief statements of disagreement. Instead, she invested enormous time and mental energy in crafting detailed, persuasive dissenting opinions that she would refine repeatedly until the very last moment before publication. This perfectionism demanded the late-night hours when she could work without interruption, thinking through every phrase and considering every potential counterargument.
The physical toll of limited sleep thus represented a tangible manifestation of her moral compass. She consistently prioritized accuracy over personal comfort, the Court’s integrity over her own rest, and the quality of her work over her physical well-being. This selflessness defined her character and explained why she maintained such demanding habits even as she aged and faced serious health challenges. For Justice Ginsburg, the work was simply too important to approach with anything less than total commitment.
In our current era, Justice Ginsburg’s statement about limited sleep during Court sittings invites complex and sometimes contradictory interpretations. The quote exists at the intersection of competing cultural values regarding work, achievement, health, and balance, and different observers draw very different lessons from her example.
For some, particularly those in demanding professional fields, her words represent the ultimate testament to dedication and the kind of sacrifice that extraordinary achievement requires. In highly competitive environments—whether in law, medicine, business, or other fields—her example validates the long hours and personal sacrifices that ambitious professionals make in pursuit of excellence. From this perspective, her willingness to forgo sleep demonstrates that reaching the pinnacle of one’s profession demands going beyond ordinary effort. Her example can motivate professionals to push through fatigue and maintain focus even when the work feels overwhelming.
However, contemporary culture has also developed increasing awareness of work-life balance, burnout, and the importance of self-care for sustainable productivity and personal well-being. From this perspective, Justice Ginsburg’s sleep deprivation might be viewed as concerning rather than admirable—a cautionary example of how professional demands can consume individuals and potentially compromise their health. Modern research on sleep consistently demonstrates its crucial importance for cognitive function, physical health, and emotional well-being. The contemporary emphasis on wellness suggests that even the most important work should not come at the cost of basic self-care.
These competing interpretations reflect genuine tensions in how we think about professional achievement. The resolution, perhaps, lies in recognizing the unique context of Justice Ginsburg’s situation. She belonged to a generation of pioneering women who faced extraordinary barriers to professional advancement. As one of the first women to serve on the Supreme Court, she felt pressure to prove that women could perform at the highest levels without any accommodation or special treatment. She believed she had to exceed, not merely meet, the standards set by her male colleagues. This generational context shaped her approach to work in ways that may not be universally applicable.
Moreover, Justice Ginsburg genuinely loved her work. She found intellectual stimulation and personal fulfillment in wrestling with complex legal questions. The late nights weren’t experienced primarily as drudgery or burden—they represented opportunities to engage with material she found fascinating. This passion transformed what might otherwise have been unsustainable sacrifice into something she could maintain for decades. When work aligns deeply with personal values and provides intrinsic satisfaction, the calculus of sacrifice changes fundamentally.
The lesson for contemporary readers, therefore, isn’t necessarily that everyone should deprive themselves of sleep in pursuit of professional achievement. Rather, the insight is that meaningful work—work that aligns with one’s deepest values and contributes to purposes larger than oneself—can make extraordinary demands feel worthwhile. The challenge is finding work that matters enough to warrant significant personal investment, while also maintaining awareness of genuine physical and psychological limits. Justice Ginsburg’s example inspires us to find our calling and pursue it with dedication, while recognizing that her particular circumstances and constitution allowed her to sustain practices that might not be healthy or feasible for everyone.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s impact on American law and society extends far beyond any single quote or habit. Source Her 27 years on the Supreme Court produced a body of legal work that will influence constitutional interpretation for generations. Her opinions on gender equality, civil rights, and numerous other areas of law represent lasting contributions to American jurisprudence. Her careful reasoning and attention to precedent exemplified judicial excellence at its finest.
Yet her candid admission about limited sleep during Court sittings provides a valuable lens for understanding the personal foundation underlying her professional achievements. This statement reveals someone who approached her role with complete seriousness, who refused to take shortcuts, and who willingly accepted personal discomfort in service of getting decisions right. The quote transcends being merely a comment about fatigue—it serves as a window into her character and her understanding of judicial responsibility.
She allocated her waking hours to the pursuit of justice with single-minded focus. While others slept, she worked, ensuring that when she participated in decisions affecting millions of Americans, she did so with the benefit of thorough preparation and careful thought. This commitment shaped the legal landscape for decades and influenced countless cases that determined the scope of constitutional rights and the interpretation of federal law.
Her words continue to resonate because they remind us that meaningful change and lasting achievement require persistent, sustained effort. Significant accomplishments rarely result from sporadic bursts of activity or casual engagement. Instead, they emerge from the kind of dedicated, day-after-day commitment that Justice Ginsburg exemplified. Her willingness to sacrifice sleep represents just one visible manifestation of a deeper dedication that permeated every aspect of her judicial service.
We honor her memory most appropriately not by uncritically adopting her specific work habits but by recognizing the values that motivated them. She teaches us to take our responsibilities seriously, to prepare thoroughly for important tasks, to consider the human impact of our decisions, and to pursue excellence even when doing so requires personal sacrifice. These lessons remain relevant regardless of one’s profession or circumstances.
Justice Ginsburg’s legacy reminds us that behind every significant legal decision, policy achievement, or social advance lie countless hours of dedicated work by committed individuals. The formal pronouncements and public accomplishments represent only the visible portion of much larger icebergs of effort. By speaking candidly about the personal toll of her work, Justice Ginsburg helped us understand and appreciate the human dedication that makes institutional excellence possible. Her example continues to inspire not because she was superhuman, but because she was thoroughly human—someone who felt fatigue but persisted anyway, who struggled with the same physical limitations as everyone else but refused to let them compromise the quality of her work.
In remembering Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and reflecting on her frank acknowledgment of limited sleep during the Court’s active periods, we celebrate not just a remarkable individual but the values of dedication, thoroughness, and commitment to excellence that she embodied. Her life and work stand as testament to what becomes possible when talent combines with unwavering dedication and when personal sacrifice serves purposes larger than oneself.
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