Introduction

“The book is a romp from cover to cover—and, just like a great meal, left me ready for more.” 
—Karen Shimizu, Executive Editor, Food & Wine

When Leslie Karst learned that her offer to cook dinner for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her renowned tax law professor husband, Marty, had been accepted, she was thrilled—and terrified. A small-town lawyer who hated her job and had taken up cooking as a way to add a bit of spice to the daily grind of pumping out billable hours, Karst had never before thrown such a high-stakes dinner party. Could she really pull this off?

Justice Is Served is Karst’s light-hearted, earnest account of the journey this unexpected challenge launched her on—starting with a trip to Paris for culinary inspiration, and ending with the dinner itself. Along the way, she imparts details of Ginsburg’s transformation from a young Jewish girl from Flatbush, Brooklyn, to one of the most celebrated Supreme Court justices in our nation’s history, and shares recipes for the mouthwatering dishes she came up with as she prepared for the big night. But this memoir isn’t simply a tale of prepping for and cooking dinner for the famous RBG; it’s also about how this event, and all the planning and preparation that went into it, created a new sort of connection between Karst, her partner, and her parents, and also inspired Karst to make life changes that would reverberate far beyond one dinner party.

A heartfelt story of simultaneously searching for delicious recipes and purpose in life, Justice Is Served is an inspiring reminder that it’s never too late to discover—and follow—your deepest passion.

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Excerpt

Prelude

“Dinner cooked by Leslie January 28 would be fine. R.B.G.”

So read the message on the screen, an email forwarded from my father. Blinking rapidly to keep my contact lenses from wigging out, I had to stare at the words—succinct though they were—and concentrate, to make sure I was reading them correctly. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

From the author:

1. What expectations did you bring to a memoir blending food, law, and RBG?

2. The book interweaves Leslie’s personal story with RBG’s biography. How does the juxtaposition of their lives shape your reading of both women?

3. How does Robin come across in the early chapters, and what tone does she bring to the story?

4. Consider the theme of partnership in the memoir. How do the relationships between Leslie and Robin and that of her parents mirror or diverge from each other?

5. In what ways do Leslie’s parents shape her relationship to ambition, identity, and confidence?

6. How does the use of humor influence your experience of the memoir, especially during moments of anxiety or self-doubt?

7. What does cooking come to represent for Leslie as the memoir unfolds?

8. Discuss which food descriptions felt most vivid and what made them stand out?

9. How does Leslie’s perfectionism—especially around hosting—resonate with your own experiences?

10. Leslie describes her ambivalence about law and her envy of people with a true calling. Did you relate to her struggle with career identity? Why or why not?

11. How does Martin Ginsburg’s presence contribute to the spirit and depth of the book?

12. Consider the role of place in the memoir—Santa Cruz, Paris, and Los Angeles/UCLA. How do these locations reflect the phases of Leslie’s life and her internal shifts?

13. In what way does the memoir shift your understanding of RBG as both a private person and a public figure? Which aspects of her journey stood out as most surprising?

14. How does the final dinner function symbolically for Leslie—emotionally, professionally, or personally?

15. What deeper meanings emerge from the title Justice Is Served after having finished the book?

Weblinks

»	Official website for the book
»	Publisher's book info
»	Kirkus review of book
»	Foreword review of book

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