Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve as a Justice on the nation’s highest court, passed away at the age of 88 on April 18th, 2021. The news has sent ripples through the legal and political worlds, with current and former members of the Supreme Court issuing statements in honor of her memory.
Justice O’Connor was often at the center of some of the Supreme Court’s most contentious rulings, and even when her opinions split the court she maintained a reputation for being a moderate jurist with a tendency to seek out compromise solutions. In recent years, she had retired from active service due to increasing health concerns.
The current justices of the Supreme Court remembered Justice O’Connor as a trailblazer for women’s rights and a steadfast guardian of the Constitution. Chief Justice John Roberts issued a statement saying that “a great day for the law has been punctuated by a great sorrow.” He added, “As the first woman to serve on the Court, she broke down barriers for women in the legal profession. Her Systematic drive to improve the administration of justice is a lasting legacy.”
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the successor to O’Connor, also issued a statement expressing admiration and admiration for her predecessor. “Justice O’Connor was a towering figure in the history of the United States and a brilliant legal mind,” she said. “As the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court, she blazed a path for so many women and Americans of all backgrounds. I will be forever grateful for her guidance and tireless dedication to the law.”
Former associates also remembered Justice O’Connor for her intelligence, wit, and fierce dedication to the law. Former Chief Justice William Rehnquist, with whom O’Connor served on the court for 18 years, said that despite their occasional disagreements, “I will miss her as a colleague and as a friend.” Justice Stephen Breyer, who knew O’Connor for 29 years, remarked that she was “always a beacon of civility… a model for the members of the court.”
When Justice O’Connor retired in 2005, she left behind a legacy of fairness, responsibility, and evenhandedness. Her impact will no doubt be felt by future generations of Supreme Court justices. As Justice Anthony Kennedy so aptly put it, “A great American has passed away.”
Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve as a Justice on the nation’s highest court, passed away at the age of 88 on April 18th, 2021. The news has sent ripples through the legal and political worlds, with current and former members of the Supreme Court issuing statements in honor of her memory.
Justice O’Connor was often at the center of some of the Supreme Court’s most contentious rulings, and even when her opinions split the court she maintained a reputation for being a moderate jurist with a tendency to seek out compromise solutions. In recent years, she had retired from active service due to increasing health concerns.
The current justices of the Supreme Court remembered Justice O’Connor as a trailblazer for women’s rights and a steadfast guardian of the Constitution. Chief Justice John Roberts issued a statement saying that “a great day for the law has been punctuated by a great sorrow.” He added, “As the first woman to serve on the Court, she broke down barriers for women in the legal profession. Her Systematic drive to improve the administration of justice is a lasting legacy.”
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the successor to O’Connor, also issued a statement expressing admiration and admiration for her predecessor. “Justice O’Connor was a towering figure in the history of the United States and a brilliant legal mind,” she said. “As the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court, she blazed a path for so many women and Americans of all backgrounds. I will be forever grateful for her guidance and tireless dedication to the law.”
Former associates also remembered Justice O’Connor for her intelligence, wit, and fierce dedication to the law. Former Chief Justice William Rehnquist, with whom O’Connor served on the court for 18 years, said that despite their occasional disagreements, “I will miss her as a colleague and as a friend.” Justice Stephen Breyer, who knew O’Connor for 29 years, remarked that she was “always a beacon of civility… a model for the members of the court.”
When Justice O’Connor retired in 2005, she left behind a legacy of fairness, responsibility, and evenhandedness. Her impact will no doubt be felt by future generations of Supreme Court justices. As Justice Anthony Kennedy so aptly put it, “A great American has passed away.”
