![]() She retired from the Supreme Court in January 2006. During her years there, she was often a crucial swing vote known for her case-by-case approach to jurisprudence. When seated, Sandra Day O’Connor became the first female Justice in the 191 year history of the United States Supreme Court. She was confirmed by a vote of 99-0 in the United States Senate and took her ground breaking place on the bench September 25, 1981. Then, on JPresident Ronald Regan nominated her to the United States Supreme Court. Four years later, Governor Bruce Babbitt appointed her to the Arizona Court of Appeals. In 1975, Sandra Day O’Connor began her judicial career in the Maricopa County Superior Court System. One friend said she could hold three conversations while cooking a delicious dinner or baking cookies for the kids’ school. When gridlock occurred at the Legislature, she often invited colleagues for Mexican food and beer where issues were ironed out in the friendly and informal setting of her adobe home. She was the first female Senate Majority Leader in Arizona. In 1969 she was appointed to an unexpired term in the Arizona Senate where she served as a Republican legislator through 1975. In 1965, she returned to the practice of law as an Arizona Assistant Attorney General. It was during this period that she became active in Young Republicans rising quickly through precinct and district leadership positions and was quickly recognized by senior leadership as a brilliant and energetic talent. From 1960-65, Sandra O’Connor was a “stay at home mom” to sons – Scott, Brian and Jay. ![]() In 1952, Sandra Day married John Jay O’Connor III.Īlthough she graduated # 2 in her law class and wrote for the prestigious Stanford Law Review, Sandra Day O’Connor initially faced obstacles finding employment as a lawyer, a profession dominated by men. On a ranch everyone works, and it was during those early, formative years on the ranch that she learned one of life’s secrets: working together is the most effective way to get things done! She lived with her grandmother in New Mexico in order to get a good education, graduated early and applied and was accepted at Stanford where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a law degree. She rode a horse before she could walk knew how to change a tire without help and could drive a pickup by the age of 12. She developed a strong work ethic and the habit of rising every morning at 5:00 AM. Her independent spirit can be traced back to her life’s beginning on a working ranch in Arizona, and spans decades of public service.īorn in El Paso, Texas on March 26, 1930, Sandra Day grew up on the Lazy B, a cattle ranch near Duncan, Arizona. Sandra Day O’Connor made history on September, 25 1981 when she became the first female Justice of the United States Supreme Court. ![]()
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