I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. She was 92 years old and had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2018. She died peacefully at her home in Phoenix, Arizona, surrounded by her family and friends.
Sandra Day O’Connor was a remarkable woman who made history and shaped the nation’s law. She was a trailblazer, a leader, a mentor, and a role model for many women and girls who aspire to pursue careers in law and public service. She was also a person of integrity, courage, wisdom, and compassion. She will be remembered for her justice, fairness, and moderation legacy.
She was born Sandra Wilkey in El Paso, Texas on March 26, 1930. She grew up on a ranch in Arizona, where she learned to ride horses, shoot guns, and fix fences. She developed a strong work ethic, a sense of independence, and a love for nature. She also excelled in school, graduating from high school at 16.
She attended Stanford University, where she majored in economics and graduated magna cum laude in 1950. She then enrolled in Stanford Law School, where she met her future husband, John O’Connor, a fellow law student. She finished her law degree in two years, ranking third in her class of 102 students. She was also the editor of the Stanford Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif, an honor society for law students.
After graduating from law school, she faced discrimination and difficulty in finding a job as a female lawyer. She was offered only secretarial positions or low-paying jobs. She eventually found work as a deputy county attorney in San Mateo, California, where she handled civil and criminal cases. She also worked as a civilian attorney for the U.S. Army in Germany, where her husband was stationed as an officer.
In 1957, the couple moved back to Arizona, where they raised their three sons. Sandra resumed her legal career, working in private practice, as an assistant attorney general, and as a state senator. She became the first woman to serve as the majority leader of a state senate in the U.S. in 1973. She was known for her bipartisan and pragmatic approach to legislation, focusing on issues such as education, health care, and criminal justice.
In 1975, she was appointed by the governor to the Arizona Court of Appeals, where she served until 1981. She earned a reputation as a fair and competent judge, who wrote clear and concise opinions. She was also active in various professional and civic organizations, such as the American Bar Association, the National Association of Women Judges, and the Arizona Women Lawyers Association.
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan nominated her to the Supreme Court of the United States, fulfilling his campaign promise to appoint the first female justice. She was unanimously confirmed by the Senate, becoming the 102nd justice and the first woman to join the highest court in the land. She was sworn in by Chief Justice Warren Burger on September 25, 1981.
She served on the Supreme Court for 25 years, from 1981 to 2006. She was a moderate conservative, who often cast the deciding vote in many landmark cases. She was known for her pragmatic and meticulously researched opinions, which balanced the principles of federalism, individual rights, and judicial restraint. She was also respected by her colleagues and the public for her collegiality, civility, and humor.
Some of the notable cases she was involved in include Roe v. Wade (1992; overturned 2022), which upheld the constitutional right to abortion but allowed states to impose some regulations on the procedure; Bush v. Gore (2000), in which she sided with the majority to stop the recount of votes in Florida, effectively deciding the outcome of the presidential election in favor of George W. Bush. In Grutter v. Bollinger (2003), she wrote the majority opinion that upheld the use of affirmative action in university admissions, as long as it was narrowly tailored and based on individual assessment; and in Lawrence v. Texas (2003), she concurred with the majority to strike down a Texas law that criminalized homosexual conduct, on the grounds of equal protection under the law.
She retired from the Supreme Court in 2006, citing the need to care for her husband, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. She was succeeded by Samuel Alito, nominated by President George W. Bush.
After retiring from the Supreme Court, Sandra Day O’Connor remained active and engaged in various causes and projects. She wrote several books, including a memoir, a children’s book, and a historical novel. She also founded iCivics, a nonprofit organization promoting civic education and young people’s engagement. She received numerous awards and honors, such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Liberty Medal, and the Radcliffe Medal.
She also continued to speak out on issues that mattered to her, such as judicial independence, women’s rights, and Alzheimer’s awareness. She revealed her own diagnosis of dementia in 2018 and urged others to support research and treatment for the disease. She also expressed her gratitude and optimism for the future: “As a young cowgirl from the Arizona desert, I never could have imagined that one day I would become the first woman justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.”
Sandra Day O’Connor pioneered justice, broke barriers, and inspired generations. She was a woman of many talents and achievements who lived a life of service and excellence. She was a leader, a jurist, a mother, a wife, a friend, and a hero. She will be dearly missed, but her legacy will live on. We honor her memory and celebrate her life.
Rest in power, Justice O’Connor.