Most people are familiar with the name Sandra Day O'Connor — the trailblazing nominee put forward by Ronald Reagan, who made good on his pledge to appoint a woman to the nation's highest court.
The Senate confirmed Sandra Day O'Connor with a unanimous vote on 21st September 1981, marking a watershed moment in American history. As the first woman ever to serve as a Justice in the USA, she went on to author 676 opinions over the course of her career, breaking barriers and opening doors for women who, like herself, refused to be limited by societal expectations.
Throughout her tenure, Sandra penned 676 opinions in total, with 301 of those classified as Opinion of the Court.
Raised on a ranch in El Paso, Texas, Sandra Day O'Connor's journey from modest roots to what was arguably one of the most powerful positions any woman held in the world at that time is nothing short of remarkable. Four days after her election on 21st September 1981, she officially took office, going on to serve for 24 years. She earned a reputation as the swing vote — the pivotal voice capable of tipping the scales and potentially determining the outcome of an election.
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Fun Facts
- As a young woman growing up on the family ranch, Sandra Day O'Connor owned a piece; she'd use it to shoot jackrabbits and coyotes.
- Ronald Reagan nominated O'Connor as the first woman Justice, and the Senate went on to elect her unanimously.
- Finding employment after graduation proved challenging for Sandra, solely because of her gender.
- Sandra Day made history as the first woman in Arizona and all states to be elected as Majority Leader.
- Over her career, Sandra authored 676 opinions in total, with 301 being of the Court's Opinion.
- Between 1980 and 2005, Justice Sandra O'Connor found herself at the heart of numerous cases; she is best remembered as the swing vote in the landmark Roe v. Wade case, which established the right to have abortions.