Honoring Sandra Day O’Connor: Paying Last Respects at the Supreme Court

On Wednesday, July 15, 2020, the public was able to pay their respects to deceased Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor at the Supreme Court, where she was lying in repose. She was the first woman to serve on the Court, and her career was an example of trailblazing and resilience. Born in El Paso, Tex., she graduated first in her class from Stanford Law School in 1952, but no law firm would hire her because of her gender. In 1969, she was appointed by President Richard Nixon to the Arizona state senate, where she served later as the majority leader. As her influence grew, she was nominated to the Supreme Court in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan, becoming the first female judge on the highest court in the United States. She served on the Court for 24 years, during which she wrote majority opinions on landmark cases that dealt with gender equality and access to reproductive care. After her retirement in 2006, O’Connor continued to campaign for better education and worked to promote civics instruction in public schools. She also became a vocal advocate for the availability of Alzheimer’s treatments, dedicating her philanthropy and advocacy to the cause after she herself was diagnosed with the disease in 2018. At the Supreme Court, O’Connor’s casket was draped in a black funeral pall and surrounded by bouquets of white roses. She was laid to rest at the court’s Great Hall, where several officials, including Chief Justice John G. Roberts and former President Barack Obama, paid their respects. O’Connor’s presence will undoubtedly continue to be felt in the Supreme Court and in American culture for years to come.