Introduction: Justice Sandra Day O’Connor (Ret.) Symposium

INTRODUCTION: Justice Sandra Day O’Connor (Ret.) Symposium

Scott Bales*

This symposium edition of the Arizona State Law Journal reflects that February 2010 was the occasion for an Arizona reunion of the nearly one hundred former law clerks of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor (Ret.). The reunion allowed the former clerks to hold an early birthday celebration for the Justice, who turned 80 in March 2010, and who herself had been an enthusiastic organizer of in-chambers birthday celebrations for her law clerks and staff.

In planning the reunion, the former clerks quickly concluded that it would be desirable to involve the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. The law school had been named after Justice O’Connor in 2006 in honor of her lifelong dedication to public service, her intellectual vigor, and her fair-mindedness. A law clerk reunion offered an ideal opportunity for former clerks to visit the law school bearing her name. Dean Paul Berman promptly embraced this idea, suggesting that the law school could help host a symposium and related events. When this idea was raised with Justice O’Connor, she responded that a symposium would be just fine, but it would be much better if instead of looking back at her work on the Court, it highlighted the on-going scholarship of some of her former law clerks who are now law professors. The symposium also provided an opportunity to discuss the Justice’s efforts to promote civic education, a project