Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States, will lie in repose at the Supreme Court next Wednesday in honor of her life and service.
Sandra Day O’Connor was born on March 26, 1930, in El Paso, Texas. She would go on to become a trailblazer in the legal world and the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court. O’Connor attended Stanford Law School where she earned her Juris Doctorate in 1952. She eventually moved to Arizona and became a state senator from 1969 to 1975, during which time she also served as the assistant state attorney general.
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan nominated O’Connor to the Supreme Court. She was unanimously confirmed by the Senate and sworn in as an associate justice on September 25, 1981. During her tenure on the court, O’Connor became “the deciding vote in cases impacting numerous critical issues—” including abortion, the death penalty, and campaign finance. She retired in 2006.
O’Connor’s contributions to America and the legal field will now be remembered with a special ceremony at the Supreme Court. On Wednesday, February 24, O’Connor will lie in repose at the Court, allowing members of the public to pay their respects. The court is inviting the public to come “pay tribute to Justice O’Connor’s legacy of public service.”
With the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg last year, the nation has now lost two historic female figures at the highest court in the land. The repose of O’Connor will allow the American public to reflect on the unique and historic contributions of two women to the nation’s legal system.
Sandra Day O’Connor has been an inspiring model to women throughout the country. Her longevity in the legal field, combined with her perseverance throughout her career, displayed a strong woman capable of wielding great influence. Her legacy will live on in the many significant decisions she contributed to the Supreme Court. The public repose at the Supreme Court will be a memorable reflection of her life and service.
