PHOENIX (Diya TV) — Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the nation’s highest court, has passed away at the age of 93 in Phoenix. The Supreme Court confirmed her death, citing complications related to advanced dementia and a respiratory illness.
Chief Justice John Roberts remembered her as someone who “blazed an historic trail as our Nation’s first female Justice” with “undaunted determination, indisputable ability, and engaging candor.”
Nominated in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan, O’Connor ended a 191-year male exclusivity on the Supreme Court. Hailing from an Arizona ranch, she quickly earned a reputation as a hard worker with considerable political influence.
On the bench, O’Connor’s impact was notable, particularly in the court’s rulings on abortion. In 1992, she helped lead a five-justice majority that reaffirmed the core holding of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, emphasizing the obligation “to define the liberty of all, not to mandate our own moral code.”
In her three-decade tenure, O’Connor participated in landmark decisions, including the 5-4 majority that effectively resolved the disputed 2000 presidential election in favor of George W. Bush. Her retirement in 2006 saw Justice Samuel Alito taking her place.
Post-retirement, O’Connor remained active, serving on federal appeals courts, advocating for judicial independence, and contributing to the Iraq Study Group. She expressed regret that her successor wasn’t a woman, continuing to play various roles even as she withdrew from public life in 2018 due to Alzheimer’s.
O’Connor, often acknowledged as a symbol of opportunities for women, faced personal challenges, including a breast cancer diagnosis in 1988 and her husband’s battle with Alzheimer’s, a significant factor in her retirement decision.
