At the young age of 16, Sandra Day O’Connor was accepted into Stanford University, a major feat defying odds in 1946. She graduated with a degree in economics and went on to Stanford Law, earning her law degree in only two years rather than the standard three years, along with graduating third in her class. There was nothing standard about Justice O’Connor. Despite her impeccable credentials, the job market was anything but welcoming for female lawyers in the early 1950s. That did not stop the aspiring Justice O’Connor. Her unwavering desire to put her degree to work compelled her to develop a more creative job approach, even if it meant working without pay. And that’s exactly what she did. She wrote a letter to the San Mateo County attorney explaining to him why she thought she would be helpful, and she was hired – for free. This type of sacrifice is a testament to Justice O’Connor’s grit and determination. It is a reason women can attend law school, become attorneys, and take leadership positions while achieving success — a reason organizations such as WWCDA can exist.
Justice O’Connor settled in Arizona, where she practiced law at her own private firm and quickly rose in the ranks in the political arena, becoming the first female majority leader in the United States Senate. Shortly thereafter, she was elected a Superior Court judge then appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals in Phoenix. She juggled both family and career, and at one point took a five-year hiatus to raise her three boys. She then went back to law and continued to balance work and family life, something many women relate to today.
By 1981, President Ronald Reagan had a Supreme Court vacancy to fill. Justice O’Connor had worked in the Arizona Court of Appeals for only two years, but when President Ronald Reagan nominated her, she was unanimously approved by the Senate as the first female Justice to serve on the United States Supreme Court. This prodded other states to appoint women to their Supreme Courts, something Justice O’Connor quickly publicly acknowledged: "The minute I was confirmed and, on the court, states across the country started putting more women ... on their Supreme Courts," O'Connor said. "And it made a difference in the acceptance of young women as lawyers. It opened doors for them." 1
While on the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice O’Connor was called "the most powerful woman in America" due to her unique position where she often cast the deciding vote in cases, such as those involving abortion, affirmative action, national security, campaign finance reform, separation of church and state, and states' rights, as well as in the case that decided the 2000 election, Bush v. Gore. Justice O’Connor played a critical role in many other key cases including Mississippi University for Women v. Hogan, involving gender discrimination as well as Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the abortions rights case which reaffirmed Roe v. Wade.
Her retirement from the bench after 25 years in 2006 allowed her to take care of her ailing husband while she continued her lifelong advocacy for judicial independence and the Rule of Law throughout the world. WWCDA is eternally grateful to Justice O’Connor for her strength, perseverance, and inspirational legacy. WWCDA continues our commitment to elevate women around the globe as we honor Justice O'Connor and her extraordinary achievements.
1 https://www.npr.org/2023/12/01/203277264/sandra-day-oconnor-dies