Last night America lost a giant. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an icon and a trailblazer.

As a litigator, she led a revolution. As a jurist, she forced us to reckon with our highest ideals and authored groundbreaking decisions that made millions of Americans more free, and more equal.

I had two direct experiences with Justice Ginsburg, one personal and one professional. The personal when I had a chance to meet her in a smaller setting during law school, the professional when I argued before the U.S. Supreme Court as Montana's Attorney General.

Both occasions left me with a profound sense of awe and admiration. Not just for her position and intellect, but for the life's journey that had led her to that point.

In the smaller setting, she shared with us the challenges of getting her first position and first professorship after law school. Resignation would have been the easier path, but as we all know, she persevered. Her perseverance then impacted not only her life's work, but the lives of the women that followed the trail she forged.

My daughters -- and all daughters -- have a better life today because of her lifelong dedication to the pursuit of equal justice under the law.

Today I am thinking of Justice Ginsburg's family, friends, and the millions of people across the world that she inspired with both her unparalleled command of the law and her relentless dedication to using it for good.

May we all make her proud in the days, weeks and years to come.

-- Steve