SAN FRANCISCO — Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg told the country’s largest lawyers’ group Monday that she hopes Senate confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominees can become more collegial.

Ginsburg, 77, recounted her own uncontroversial confirmation during an address at the American Bar Association’s annual meeting in San Francisco. Her nomination by Democratic President Bill Clinton was approved 96-3.

Votes on the last four nominees have been much closer and acrimonious, a departure from the long-standing tradition of giving the president wide deference on appointees.

“May the U.S. Senate someday return to the collegial bipartisan spirit that Justice Breyer and I had the good fortune to experience,” Ginsburg said, referring to Associate Justice Stephen Breyer, the next nominee to follow her to the bench.

The justice spoke after receiving the ABA Medal, the association’s most prestigious award. Ginsburg said she had delayed her trip to the ABA’s meeting to attend the Saturday afternoon swearing-in of Elena Kagan as the fourth woman ever on the Supreme Court. Ginsburg was the second.

Ginsburg did not elaborate on her comment about the Senate or take questions following her speech.