WASHINGTON 鈥� The law isn鈥檛 the only thing of importance on the U.S. Supreme Court. It turns out food has a place at the bench, too.
On Wednesday, June 1, Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor dished on the history and food traditions of the Supreme Court in a panel at the Museum of American History. The event was part of the Smithsonian鈥檚 ongoing .
In a discussion led by Clare Cushman of the Supreme Court Historical Society, Ginsburg and Sotomayor covered everything from mealtime rituals established on John Marshall鈥檚 court, to what today鈥檚 justices eat for lunch.
They gave examples of how breaking bread has helped bridge the divide among those overseeing the nation鈥檚 highest court of law, and how justices have used food to connect outside the courtroom.
The country鈥檚 first justices spent many meals together, often deliberating cases. Today鈥檚 justices still eat together regularly, only now there are stricter rules for the mealtime meetings.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 talk about cases. That is our absolute rule,鈥� Sotomayor told the small crowd gathered in the museum鈥檚 Warner Bros. Theater. In fact, she said they try to avoid all subjects of controversy.
鈥淭he most common conversation [in the lunchroom] is about a fascinating book that one of the justices is reading,鈥� Sotomayor said. Updates on the grandkids and museum exhibits are also welcome.
Ginsburg reminded Sotomayor that she left out one popular topic at the table: sports. 鈥淭o which I don鈥檛 contribute,鈥� she added.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just the normal type of conversation that people have who want to get to know each other as individuals rather than as justices,鈥� Sotomayor said about lunch at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Ginsburg, who isn鈥檛 a regular in the lunchroom, said she prefers to keep her midday meals small and simple. Her late husband, Martin Ginsburg, was well-known for his culinary skills, so she grew accustomed to saving her appetite for dinner.
Sotomayor, on the other hand, said she needs variety. Often she鈥檒l pack a salad or a sandwich, and every now and then she鈥檒l order-in from a local sushi or Indian restaurant.
鈥淔or me, eating is sacred. You should not waste a meal,鈥� Sotomayor said.
For the most part, meals in the court’s dining room are limited to the justices. However, a few guests have been invited to dine with the nine.
Only two have been repeat guests, including former chairman of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan and former president of the World Bank James Wolfensohn.
鈥淎nd the reason is that those two have an uncanny ability to eat lunch and speak at the same time,鈥� Ginsburg said.
Birthdays are another cause for culinary celebration on the court. Ginsburg explained the Chief Justice typically brings wine for a toast. Often, there鈥檚 a birthday cake (Ginsburg鈥檚 late husband made many of these), and there鈥檚 always singing.
鈥淭ruth be told, most of them can鈥檛 carry a tune,鈥� Ginsburg said.
鈥淚鈥檓 one of them who can鈥檛,鈥� Sotomayor added.
Elaborate dinners are held when a new justice joins the court, and also before each State of the Union. Ginsburg touched on the humorous moment when she dozed off during President Obama鈥檚 2015 address, after which
Ginsburg shared that Justice Kennedy brought a couple bottles of Opus One wine to the dinner 鈥� and she was a fan.
鈥淭hat was the first time I fell asleep during the State of the Union,鈥� she said.
When it comes to cooking, both Ginsburg and Sotomayor admit they lack bragging rights. Ginsburg, whose husband used to make dishes such as veal tonnato for the court鈥檚 spouse lunches, admits that since her husband鈥檚 death, her daughter now sees to it that she鈥檚 well-nourished.
Sotomayor said her culinary chops don鈥檛 hold a candle to her mother鈥檚 and her grandmother鈥檚.
鈥淚鈥檓 not a bad cook, but I鈥檓 a horrible cook of Puerto Rican food,鈥� she said.
鈥淏ut I do cook a lot of other things.鈥�
