Ms. Magazine: Rest in Power: Sandra Day O’Connor, the First Woman on the Supreme Court
This excerpt is from a piece that originally ran on December 18, 2023.
After her death, Sandra Day O’Connor has been described as a towering figure of the 20th century, a trailblazer, an independent and influential voice, a cancer survivor, a pragmatist, a compromiser … and perhaps most importantly, the decisive vote on a narrowly divided court.
[…]
Rakim Brooks, president at Alliance for Justice:We are saddened to learn of the passing of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, a true trailblazer who changed the course for women judges and justices. While we may not have agreed with every decision she authored, Justice O’Connor stood for a kind of justice that we admire: a true free thinker who sought compromise and emphasized fidelity to the rule of law. Today’s justices would be wise to emulate her example and refuse to bow to petty partisan interests. What better way to honor Justice O’Connor’s legacy and commitment to the founding principle of an independent judiciary?