Seeking Justice for Ordinary Americans
Printer Friendly VersionAdina Rosenbaum ’03, an attorney at Public Citizen, went before the Supreme Court this past December to argue on behalf of Rabbi S. Binyomin Ginsberg in Northwest Inc. v. Ginsberg, a case involving a contractual dispute over the airline’s revocation of Ginsberg’s frequent-flier status. Although the Court ultimately ruled against Ginsberg, Rosenbaum was nevertheless recognized for her sharp reasoning; SCOTUSblog described her brief as a “masterful defense” with “a powerful argument.”
This is not the first time Rosenbaum has argued before the Court; in 2008, she won Taylor v. Sturgell, a case involving a request under the Freedom of Information Act.
Rosenbaum says she is particularly drawn to cases that do not necessarily grab headlines but are still important in terms of getting justice for regular people. She credits her experience of taking Federal Courts under Helen Hershkoff, Herbert M. and Svetlana Wachtell Professor of Constitutional Law and Civil Liberties, with helping her find her passion for litigation and procedural law. “I would be reading cases I disagreed with, and I would get so upset, so frustrated at the laws,” Rosenbaum says. “It showed me that the procedural issues could be really fascinating and really important.”
“Adina’s hallmark qualities have always been her commitment, intelligence, and energy,” says Hershkoff of her former student. “She personifies the NYU spirit of public service.”
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