Jan Crawford Greenburg

Learn how this former
farm girl grew up to report on the nation's highest court.

"The stakes often are incredibly high, because the court's ultimate decision could have a sweeping impact on American life. Reporting all of that can be exciting and stimulating and, I must say, a lot of fun."
Jan Crawford Greenburg

Multimedia: Jan Crawford Greenburg discusses the Supreme Court's ruling on the American Disabilities Act.

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Is it difficult to stay objective when reporting on "hot or controversial issues before the court?
News reporters strive to present balanced, unbiased accounts of whatever issues they are covering. How well a reporter succeeds in doing that, I believe, is critical to her credibility. I always try not to form an opinion on a particular case, and I give both sides a chance to fully explain their arguments. Controversial cases typically are very close calls, so both sides have powerful arguments that can sound convincing on their own.

What's more, I usually approach each case curious about how the court will decide, instead of thinking I know the right answer. Does the government have power to regulate cigarettes? Can Congress keep the Playboy Channel off cable during the daytime? Can the federal government give software equipment to religious schools? When both sides present strong arguments, I'm always anxious to see how the justices sort through them. I do sometimes feel sympathy for the people involved, but that doesn't mean I think the justices need to rule a specific way.

What advice would you give to students on setting and reaching their goals?
Don't worry if you don't know exactly what you want to do. I certainly didn't — for years. Like a lot of people, I had general goals about doing something good and positive for society, but I wasn't sure about how to do that. My experience has been that it doesn't pay to panic if you don't know what to do — just try to focus on things you find interesting, things you enjoy. Be flexible and open-minded, believe in yourself, and when an opportunity arises, give it a try. After all, you can always do something else.

What role models do young women have in the legal profession?
I think there actually are quite a few female role models out there, women who have done amazing things against difficult odds. In the old days in the journalism world, for example, women weren't thought of as news reporters. Instead, editors assigned them feature stories, society pieces and items like "Pet of the Week." The legal world was, in many ways, even more hostile to women, as the two female Supreme Court justices saw early in their careers.

When Justice Sandra Day O'Connor graduated third in her class from Stanford, one of the most prestigious law schools in the country, she got one job offer, as a legal secretary. And Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who graduated at the top of her class from Columbia Law School, was turned down for a Supreme Court clerkship because she was married and had a young daughter.

Today, women have succeeded at the highest levels in our legal system and have had an enormous impact on the system and the rights of women. We now have women advocating on behalf of other women, women bringing their perspectives to the bench and to the nation's leading law firms and corporations, and women shaping and implementing policy at the highest levels of government.

How did you start reporting for the NewsHour?
Now that I think about it, becoming a regular on the NewsHour fits in with the overall pattern of my career. The NewsHour called me one afternoon in 1998 and asked if I could come on to discuss arguments in a case. I was completely surprised, and a little nervous, I must admit, because I hadn't done a lot of television. But I thought, "Well, I can't be afraid to try. Why not?" I suppose that first night went well, because they asked me back several more times and, then, a few weeks later, offered me a regular position. I was happy to accept.

I'm extremely proud to be part of such a quality show, and I thoroughly enjoy the work. It presents a different challenge from newspaper reporting, even though I cover the same issues for the Chicago Tribune. One big difference is that you have one chance to say what you mean: You can't go later and think, "I should say it this way… " Another is that you have to make sure you are as clear as possible. In a newspaper story, a reader can go back and reread something that may seem unclear at first. On television, viewers typically can't do that.

-- interview conducted July 2000