![]() “I loved being in public service, deciding things that mattered.”īefore her appointment to the Supreme Court, O’Connor had started her own law practice and worked as an assistant attorney general for Arizona. I never worked for the salary or the money,” said O’Connor. When the deputy county attorney was promoted, he hired O’Connor to replace him. One firm did offer her a job as a legal secretary, which she declined, choosing instead to work as an unsalaried volunteer in the County Attorney’s office in San Mateo, California. "Law firms weren’t hiring women to do anything but secretarial work," she recalled. O’Connor recalled struggling to find any job after graduating third in her class from Stanford Law School in 1952. “For the most part, the Court takes small steps, and I think that is a good thing.” Board of Education,” said Justice O’Connor. Board of Education before the Supreme Court, which led to the overturning of “separate but equal” segregation laws.“It is rare that the court takes a big leap and creates new law, like cases like Brown v. "I was a minority and so was he," she recalled, noting that she regards him as “the only certified American hero with whom I served." As an attorney, Marshall had argued the case Brown v. Justice O’Connor cherished a special bond with Justice Thurgood Marshall. Ruth Bader Ginsberg, a fellow female justice, observed that “at the end of the day, a wise man and a wise woman will make the same decision.” Justice O’Connor had known William Rehnquist since both were law students at Stanford. Justice Byron White, a former college football star, was “like iron,” and the first time he shook Justice O’Connor’s hand, "he gripped it so hard I had tears in my eyes," she recalled. Justice Lewis Powell was a “Southern gentleman” who helped her find an apartment when she moved to Washington. She also shared anecdotes and memories about some of her Supreme Court Colleagues. Justice O’Connor also observed that “every major social problem in the country ends up in the court in some respect,” citing cases involving the Iraq War, abortion regulation, gay marriage, the death penalty and the economy. I hope we’re not getting into a rut and think every justice has to come from the Court of Appeals. “It’s helpful if we don’t have nine clones on the court. “Some diversity of experience is desirable,” said Justice O’Connor, addressing the selection of future justices. The discussion began with several questions from Professor Suzanna Sherry, whose book, Judgment Calls: Principle and Politics in Constitutional Law, coauthored with Daniel Farber, addresses the role of the judiciary. 31, 2006, touched on the nomination of new justices and the direction the Supreme Court under the next presidents. ![]() ![]() During the course of her discussion with students and faculty, the justice, who served on the Supreme Court from 1981 until her retirement on Jan. Justice O’Connor’s talk at Vanderbilt was sponsored by the Cecil Sims Lecture Series. “And a little common sense doesn’t hurt either,” O’Connor added. ![]() Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor told law school faculty and students in "A Conversation with the Law School" on Oct. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor speaks at Vanderbilt Nov 6, 2008Ī good judge has the intelligence to think through complex issues, writes with clarity and skill and is always collegial, retired U.S. ![]()
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