Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg believes that the current political era will be seen as an outlier to those in the future.

Speaking at an event at Amherst College in Massachusetts Thursday, the 86-year-old justice was asked how she thinks historians will characterize this period in American history. Ginsburg, who was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1993, said it would be seen “as an aberration.”

She was also asked what her thoughts were on the growing surge of right-wing parties globally and that surge’s effect on the United States.

“The pendulum goes too far to the right, it's going to swing back. The same thing too far to the left,” Ginsburg said. “So, I'm hoping to see it swing back in my, in my lifetime.”

Ginsburg emphasized her belief that the Supreme Court doesn’t have an “agenda” but noted that in her dissents, she acts as sort of an advocate and is always “hopeful that [her] advocacy will persuade” the others on the court.

“The Supreme Court doesn't have an agenda of its own,” she said. “It's a totally reactive institution; it depends upon people bringing cases before us that represent the issues.”

She also said she feels hopeful for the future.

“Over the long haul, yes,” the justice told the audience.

Ginsburg has made a number of public appearances since her most recent bout with cancer this year. Last year, she underwent surgery to remove cancerous nodules from her lungs. In addition, she was successfully treated for pancreatic cancer in 2009 and colon cancer a decade before that.