Remarkably, Sandra Day O'Connor became the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court, breaking a barrier that had stood for 191 years. Her devotion to consensus-building and pragmatic legal thinking had a profound impact on American law and served as an example of the value of diversity in the judicial system.

An Overview of Arizona's Legal History

Sandra Day O'Connor grew up on a cattle ranch in Arizona after being born in El Paso, Texas, on March 26th, 1930. She earned her degrees from Stanford University and Stanford Law School, where she placed third in her graduating class, behind only future Chief Justice William Rehnquist. O'Connor, like many women of her time, experienced gender prejudice when applying for jobs despite her outstanding academic record.

Early Professional Life and Political Activity

O'Connor's legal career began in San Mateo, California, where she worked as a deputy county attorney. She married an American soldier and followed him to Germany, where she became a civilian attorney for the American armed forces. O'Connor went into private practice and public service after returning to the United States. She was the first American woman to become the majority leader of a state senate after being elected to the Arizona State Senate and serving as the state's assistant attorney general.

From the Supreme Court of Arizona

After her time on the Arizona Court of Appeals, President Ronald Reagan nominated Sandra Day O'Connor to be the first female Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court in 1981. The Senate voted unanimously (99-0) to affirm O'Connor's nomination.

The Impact of O'Connor's Case Law

Justice O'Connor's case-by-case approach to the law made her the pivotal fifth vote in a number of landmark decisions. She advocated looking at each situation on its own merits and avoided generalizations. Respect for precedent and consideration of real-world consequences were common themes in her decisions and opinions. Cases in which she was instrumental included ones concerning women's rights, affirmative action, and even the death sentence.

O'Connor also gained notoriety for promoting a spirit of camaraderie among the Supreme Court's judges. Both her peers and the general public admired her for her firm belief that better judgments could be made via mutual respect and compromise.

Influence and History

Though she left the Supreme Court in 2006, Sandra Day O'Connor's legacy lives on. Significant changes to American law were made as a result of her rulings, and her presence on the bench paved the path for other women to serve as Supreme Court justice. O'Connor has also made it his mission to get young people interested in government and citizenship by creating the digital platform iCivics.