Timeline
The Life of Sandra Day O'Connor
On December 1, 2023, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor passed after 93 extraordinary years. During her consequential life, she shattered the glass ceiling to an equal branch of power, leaving a legacy that changed the course of history and created opportunities for countless women who would follow her into the legal profession.Â
1930-01-01
1930
Mar 26Â
Born in El Paso, Texas
1938-01-01
1938
Aug 10Â
Sister, Ann Day, is born
1945-01-01
1945
Jul 16
Witnesses the "Trinity test," the world's first nuclear explosion, from the Lazy B Ranch approximately 180 miles away
1946-01-01
1946
Sep
Enrolls at Stanford University
1952-01-01
1952
Jun 15
Graduates from Stanford Law School
Aug
Begins work as deputy county attorney in San Mateo, California
1953-01-01
1953
Sep
Begins work as civilian attorney for Army Quartermaster's Corps in Frankfurt, Germany
1957-01-01
1957
Jan
Moves to Phoenix, Arizona and opens law office in suburb of Maryvale
Oct
Son, Scott, is born
1960-01-01
1960
Jan
Son, Brian, is born
1962-01-01
1962
May
Son, Jay, is born
1965-01-01
1965
Jun
Begins work as Assistant Attorney General of Arizona
1970-01-01
1970
Nov 3
Elected Arizona State Senator for District 20
1972-01-01
1972
Jan
Serves as Arizona co-chairman of President Richard Nixon re-election campaign
Nov
Elected Majority Leader of Arizona State Senate, becoming the first woman to hold that position in any state senate in the countryServes as Arizona co-chairman of President Richard Nixon re-election campaign
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1975-01-01
1975
Jan 13
Sworn in as Maricopa County Superior Court Judge for Division 31
1981-01-01
1981
Jul 7
President Ronald Reagan announces O'Connor nomination to the Supreme Court
Aug 19
President Reagan sends O'Connor nomination to the U.S. Senate
Sep 9
U.S. Senate confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nomination begin
Sep 11
U.S. Senate confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nomination end
Sep 21
U.S. Senate votes 99-0 to confirm Justice O'Connor to the Supreme Court
Sep 25
Sworn in as Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court
1984-01-01
1984
Apr 9
Father, Harry "D.A." Day, dies, age 85
1988-01-01
1988
Oct 3
Diagnosed with breast cancer
Oct 21
Undergoes mastectomy operation
Nov 5
Begins chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer
1989-01-01
1989
Jan 20
Swears in Dan Quayle as Vice President of the United States
Jun
Mother, Ada Mae "M.O." Wilkey Day, dies, age 85
2005-01-01
2005
Jul 1
Sends letter to President George W. Bush announcing retirement from Supreme Court
Oct 4
Begins tenure as Chancellor of the College of William and Mary
2006-01-01
2006
Jan 31
Steps down as Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Begins to serve as a visiting judge at U.S. Circuit Courts around the country, maintaining chambers at the Supreme Court and continuing to hire law clerks
Feb 1
First meeting held to plan the relocation of the historic O'Connor House (Barbara Barrett, Gay Wray, and Justice and John O'Connor meet to discuss the fate of the O'Connor family home, a sun-dried adobe brick house which was slated for demolition by its new owner.)
2008-01-01
2008
Oct 1
Friends of O'Connor House organization officially formed
2009-01-01
2009
Mar 3
501(c)(3) designation granted to Friends of O'Connor House
Jul 1
O'Connor House successfully relocated to Papago Park in Tempe, AZ
Sep 1
O'Connor House receives Certificate of Occupancy, marking the completion of the house's relocation
Nov 11
Husband John Jay O'Connor dies, age 79
2010-01-01
2010
Jun 1
Friends of O'Connor House 501(c)(3) changes name to O'Connor House to expand programming beyond historic preservation
2012-01-01
2012
Feb 1
Ends tenure as Chancellor of the College of William and Mary
2015-01-01
2015
Mar 30
O'Connor House, with guidance from Justice O’Connor, is strategically rebranded as the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute (Focusing on civil discourse, civic engagement and civics education)
2016-01-01
2016
Jan
O'Connor Institute creates Sandra Day O'Connor Scholarship Fund to benefit gifted law students at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University
May 7
Sister, Ann Day, dies in an automobile accident
2019-01-01
2019
Feb 7
O'Connor Institute launches Emerging Leaders Network for young adults ages 18-39
Jul 19
O'Connor House placed on National Register of Historic Places. O'Connor Institute establishes O'Connor House Preservation Fund.
2020-01-01
2020
Sep 25
Arizona holds its first annual Sandra Day O'Connor Civics Celebration Day (Every year on this date, by law, schools will dedicate a majority of the day to civics education.)
2019-01-01
2023
Dec 1
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor passes away in Phoenix, Arizona
Dec 18Â
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor lay in repose in the Great Hall of the Supreme Court.
Dec 18
A funeral service was held for Justice Sandra Day O'Connor at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.Â
Dec 20Â
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was laid to rest on the Day family’s Lazy B Ranch.