Leadership and Legacy: More than the Symbolic
"When she became the first woman to sit on the Supreme Court, her place in history was assured. But her accomplishments go way past the symbolic." - Arizona Republic
[MAKERS, 2013]
Her childhood in Arizona, her study of law at Stanford, and her fight for a career in law and politics during the 1950s resulted in Sandra Day O’Connor being an iconic leader. As the first female Supreme Court Justice, she continues to inspire women to go into law and politics. According to the National Archives (archives.gov), after Sandra Day O'Connor was appointed into the Supreme Court, the percentage of female law students went up 12% .
O’Connor’s decisions while serving on the Arizona State Senate (click to learn more about her leadership role in the State Senate) as an appointee and Majority State Leader affected many residents in Arizona. She continued providing strong leadership while serving on the Supreme Court (click to learn more about her leadership in the Supreme Court). The decisions she made affected topics from the standing on affirmative action in universities to homosexual rights in the workplace.
"The Tempe City Council voted Thursday to give former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's Paradise Valley house a new home on city-owned land." - Arizona Republic
"'The years I was in the Senate we would host gatherings at the house
for the senators, I would
fix chalupas and Mexican food and all the trimmings.
I remember sessions in the living room area with various leaders in the community and talking about provisions for Arizona that would keep it out of debt but allow progress to be made. We would have senators from both sides of the aisle.'" - Sandra Day O'Connor
I remember sessions in the living room area with various leaders in the community and talking about provisions for Arizona that would keep it out of debt but allow progress to be made. We would have senators from both sides of the aisle.'" - Sandra Day O'Connor
The mission of the O'Connor Institute: "To continue Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s legacy of solving
important social, economic and political problems through civil talk leading to
civic action."
"The preservation of the house was necessary because of what the house symbolized [....] Not only was it their home, it became a gathering place for state, national and international leaders and dignitaries. Then State Senate Majority Leader Sandra Day O’Connor hosted Senate colleagues to discuss issues over dinner and help reach consensus so that progress could be made." - Sarah Suggs, President and CEO of the O'Connor Institute
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"Only 1 in 7 knows that John Roberts is Chief Justice, but two thirds can name at least one judge of American Idol." - Sandra Day O'Connor
In 2009, O'Connor founded iCivics; a website to teach students about government. Also, in 2009, Sandra Day O'Connor was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Sandra Day O’Connor was the first female State Senate Majority Leader and Supreme Court Justice. Her decisions while a member of the Arizona Senate and later the Supreme Court still affect all of us. In 2015, there are three female Justices in the Supreme Court: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagen, and Sonia Sotomayor. There is a Sandra Day O'Connor Civic Badge for Arizona Girl Scouts. In addition, a high school and law school in Arizona are named in her honor.
"Her example of leadership, collaborative problem solving and legal brilliance has secured her place in history and inspiration for others." - Sarah Suggs, President and CEO of the O'Connor Institute
Sandra Day O'Connor has inspired women by proving that tenacity and ability can ultimately lead to success, no matter what gender you are.