Sandra Day O'Connor

Sandra Day O'Connor (March 26, 1930 – December 1, 2023) was an American attorney, politician, and jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1981 to 2006. O'Connor was the first woman nominated and served as a U.S. supreme court justice. Before becoming an U.S. associate justice, O'Connor's was an Arizona state judge and earlier an elected legislator in Arizona, serving as the first female majority leader in the Arizona Senate.

Biography
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.Justice O'Connor announces she has been diagnosed with dementia, 'probably Alzheimer's'  at CNN On December 1, 2023, O'Connor died in Phoenix, Arizona from problems caused by dementia and respiratory failure, aged 93.

Things named after her 
She has a high school named after her in North Phoenix, Arizona.

References

Sources
Greenburg, Jan Crawford (2007). Supreme Conflict: The Inside Story of the Struggle for Control of the United States Supreme Court. Penguin Books.
Montini, E.J. (2005) "Rehnquist is No. 1, O'Connor is No. 3, Baloney is No. 2.", The Arizona Republic. Retrieved August 21, 2009.

Other websites

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