Arizona Republic, Newspaper article, The Kauffman-Henry Collection

Pragmatist: Judge O’Connor seems issue-oriented

Arizona Republic, Newspaper article, The Kauffman-Henry Collection / By

New York Times

Like supporters and detractors of her Supreme Courtnomination, Sandra O’Connor devoted the better part of last week to a review of the state legislation and judicial decisions that constitute the record of much of her public life. I With her office at the Arizona Court of Appeals overflowing with congratulatory bouquets, her desk cluttered with papers and files, and her law clerk, husband and friends helping with the review, Judge O’Connor looked up during a brief break Friday morning to say with a s1 igh, “It’s a nightmare.” “Fifty years is a long time,” she said, “and it’s hard to remember everything you did.” In addition to being a state appellate judge, Sandra O’Connor was, in no particular order, president of the local Heard Museum, a board member of the local Salvation Anny, a director of the Phoenix chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, a director of the local YMCA, a national vice president of the Soroptimist Club, a former trustee of Stanford University, a board member of the Arizona State University Law School and a lay member of the national accrediting body for medical schools. The review is far from complete, but the woman, public and private, who has so far emerged from an examination of those -records and from conversations with friends, colleagues and adversaries, is by political instinct, judicial philosophy, economic standing and personal temperament both similar to and different from the constituency that elected Ronald

Newspaper mention, The Kauffman-Henry Collection

Your Opinion: John Q. Public offers approval of Judge O’Connor

Newspaper mention, The Kauffman-Henry Collection / By

With the nomination of Judge Sandra O’Connor to the Supreme Court , controversy has arisen from those objecting to abortion . Whether a woman can handle the job. or will be a “proper “‘ representative , also has been floating around the atmosphere of some conservatives . O’Connor is the first woman ever nominated for a position as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. thus you can see the reasoning for doubt – tradition. Evidently the reason President Ronald Reagan chose her wasn’t because she was a woman, but because she was the best qualified for the position . Conside ring she is from Arizona expands the spotlight of att ention in this state ‘s press. But, what do the people from Arizona think ? Was it a wise choice for Reagan to nominate her? We asked some-westside people their opinions. and the reaction was completely positive Joan Hogue : ” I think it’ s wonderful. rm glad to see a woman have a chance to get in.”

Josett Dobbs: “I think it’s good.”

Mike O’Keefe: ” I think it’s good to have a woman representative on t he Supre me Court. Women can make decisions just as well as men.”

Tina Engel: ” I think it’s OK, as long as she’s qualified. There’s nothing wrong wit h a woman being appointed.” Jules Ketcham : ” Well. I’ m not rea l qualified – issues I heard her opinions about make me favor her .” Russe ll Par ker: ” l think it”s great. Sure. there’s nothing wrong with a woman being in there.”

Speech

Remarks on President Abraham Lincoln’s legacy for the National Constitution Center

Speech / By

Sandra Day O’Connor Good evening. And I’m sorry, I wasn’t able to join you in person for this exciting event. Although I can’t say I’m sorry to be spending this winter evening, in a warmer climate. I dedicate much my time working to teach our school children about the importance of civic knowledge, including the importance of our nation’s charter our Constitution. A few years ago, I was speaking to a large group of young people. My purse was sitting next to my chair. I’m told it was even trending on Twitter, on Twitter for a time, one of the students asked me what I kept in that purse. I told her that of course, I keep the usual sorts of things there, a wallet, Kleenex tissues, a compact. I also told her that one thing I never forget to include is a copy of the Constitution. And just like I never forget my copy of the Constitution, I also never forget that we need to care and learn about the whole constitution, not just the original articles drafted in Philadelphia, and the Bill of Rights ratified soon after, but also the later amendments, including the vital amendments that we’re celebrating here tonight, amendments that ended slavery that secured equality for every one of us, and expand it the right to vote. This is an important lesson to keep in mind tonight, as we celebrate Celebrate President Lincoln’s constitutional legacy, and in particular, his role in the ratification of the 13th amendment to our Constitution, as well as an over the next five years, as we celebrate

Interview, Magazine article

“A Candid Conversation With Sandra Day O’Connor: ‘I Can Still Make a Difference'”

Interview, Magazine article / By

As the Supreme Court begins a new term this week, David Gergen sits down with Sandra Day O’Connor, the first female justice, to talk about life after the bench and her thoughts on the current state of the court.

It was July 1981. I was taking a rare vacation from my job as President Reagan’s communications director when my boss rang. “Please be in my office tomorrow at 10,” said Jim Baker, Reagan’s chief of staff. “I can’t tell you why.”

Getting to Washington from New York’s ­Finger Lakes was an ordeal—long drive, broken-down car—but as I burst into his office, the effort was more than worth it. There stood Sandra Day O’Connor, the president’s choice to be the first woman justice on the Supreme Court. I liked her immediately: She was gracious and modest but came with a direct, don’t-mess-with-me style that harked back to her days as a young cowgirl on the Lazy B ranch in Arizona, learning to brand cattle and hunt jackrabbits with a rifle. Today at 82, she hasn’t changed a bit. Slender and fit, she still has an adventuresome spirit—the same confidence and drive that propelled her from the high desert to the highest court in the land.

During her quarter-century on the bench, O’Connor became known for her core belief in civility, compromise, and the sensible center. As a moderate justice on an ideologically ­divided court, she cast the swing vote in countless 5-4 decisions. Before she stepped down in 2006 to spend more time with her beloved husband, John, who was suffering from

Speech

Speech to the Center for Social Cohesion on the issues that divide and separate Americans

Speech / By

Unknown Speaker done on c span. Unknown Speaker Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor lead off a day long discussion on the social, economic and political forces that divide and unite Americans today. Following her remarks, the panel examines whether Americans as a society, or more divided today than in previous generations. This is hosted by the Center for social cohesion, a joint project of Arizona State University and Socolow public square, in partnership with the New America Foundation partnership with the newest panel is an hour 20 minutes Unknown Speaker see, we are a new Think Tank dedicated to studying the forces that shape our sense of social unity. To kick things off today, I’m very pleased to introduce Mr. Michael Crow, the president of Arizona State University. Michael Crow So thank you, Gregory. And what I think what I would like to say today, before I have the opportunity to introduce Justice O’Connor, is just the fact that even from Arizona, of all places in Southern California, where there are tremendous forces for social change and tremendous stresses that are manifested every day in the behavior of politicians and citizens. The one thing that we think is absent from this mix is intellectually rigorous, focused, thoughtful debate. And so what we have been working toward with the launching of this center and through other things that we do is to help within that complex mix of forces that are out there to make certain that at the end of the day,