Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Trailblazing First Female Justice, Passes Away at 93
Phoenix, Ariz. – Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who made history as the first woman to serve on the nation’s highest court, passed away on Friday at the age of 93. The announcement, made by the court, cited complications related to advanced dementia, likely Alzheimer’s, and a respiratory illness as the causes of her demise.
Appointed to the Supreme Court by President Ronald Reagan in 1981, O’Connor retired in 2006 after an illustrious tenure spanning over 24 years. Widely recognized as “the most powerful woman in America” during her time on the bench, O’Connor played a pivotal role in numerous landmark decisions on critical issues, including abortion, affirmative action, national security, campaign finance reform, separation of church and state, and states’ rights.
Her crucial role in the controversial 2000 election case, Bush v. Gore, where she cast a deciding vote, became a defining moment in her career. In the aftermath of her retirement, President George W. Bush appointed a more conservative successor, Justice Samuel Alito, significantly altering the court’s ideological direction.
O’Connor’s decision to step down was influenced by a delicate balance between family and career. In 2005, her husband’s battle with Alzheimer’s disease prompted her retirement, a move she later revealed with a sense of regret. The Chief Justice William Rehnquist’s decision to delay his retirement added urgency to her choice, fearing the court might face two vacancies simultaneously.
Despite her retirement, O’Connor remained an influential figure, advocating for judicial independence and increased civics education in public schools. Born in Arizona, she embarked on a remarkable journey from a cattle ranch to becoming a trailblazing legal figure. Overcoming gender-based obstacles in her early career, O’Connor’s rise in Arizona’s political arena eventually led to her historic appointment to the Supreme Court, leaving an indelible mark on the nation’s legal landscape.
Sandra Day O’Connor’s passing marks the end of an era and a life dedicated to public service and the pursuit of justice.
Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve as a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, has died at the age of 93.@JudyWoodruff looks back on her life and legacy. pic.twitter.com/Z2a7R7m6AD
— PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) December 1, 2023