Sandra Day O'Connor (March 26, 1930 – December 1, 2023) was a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. She was the first woman to serve as justice on the Supreme Court, as well as the first from Arizona.[1]
Sandra Day O'Connor | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 91st Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States | |
| In office September 21, 1981 – January 31, 2006 | |
| Nominated by | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Potter Stewart |
| Succeeded by | Samuel Alito |
| 23rd Chancellor of The College of William & Mary | |
| In office April 7, 2006 – February 3, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Henry Kissinger |
| Succeeded by | Robert Gates |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sandra Day March 26, 1930 El Paso, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | December 1, 2023 (aged 93) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | John O'Connor (1952–2009) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Stanford University |
| Signature |  |
One of her ideas on the Supreme Court was the endorsement test. It was a way to check if the government was supporting religion.
Life
O'Connor was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan. Reagan said while running for president that he wanted a woman to be on the Supreme Court and promised to nominate a woman for the job the first chance he got. One of her biggest supporters was Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater, who helped make sure that all 100 Senators voted to confirm her.
While on the Supreme Court, she was involved in several major Supreme Court decisions including: Bush v. Gore, which had to do with a disputed election; Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which involved a woman's right to privacy. She was also involved in Lawrence v. Texas, a case about whether burning a US flag was free speech. She retired from the court in 2006. Samuel Alito was chosen to replace her.
On August 12, 2009, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest civilian honor of the United States. It was given by President Barack Obama.
In October 2018, O’Connor announced her retirement from public life after revealing that she was diagnosed with the early stages of dementia.[2]
On December 1, 2023, O'Connor died in Phoenix, Arizona from problems caused by dementia and respiratory failure, aged 93.[3][4]
Things named after her
She has a high school named after her in North Phoenix, Arizona.[5]
References
Sources
Other websites
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