REMEMBERING SANDRA DAY O’CONNOR: GROUNDBREAKING JUSTICE & MILSPOUSE


By bblouin
Sandra Day O'Connor, 1st female Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

Sandra Day O’Connor left a lasting legacy that spans several decades to include landmark decisions and issues. As a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O’Connor was always going to have a major impact on our nation. However, her unique position as the first woman to hold such an appointment not only opened the doors for others but helped provide women with notable changes. While Justice Sandra Day O’Connor is known for being a deciding vote on various controversial decisions, her journey was even more unique as she worked with the Army. During this time, she would also meet her husband, Veteran John Jay O'Connor, and become a milspouse. Suggested read: Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Protects Spousal Job Licenses

Who Is Sandra Day O’Connor?

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor (Ret.) was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as the first woman on the Supreme Court, serving from Sept. 25, 1981 to Jan. 31, 2006. Born in El Paso, Texas, on March 26, 1930, Sandra Day spent her childhood on an Arizona cattle ranch. O'Connor made history as the first woman to lead a state senate and serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. The Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University bears her name, emphasizing her significant contributions to legal history. A pivotal vote in many 5-4 decisions on contentious issues, she is regarded as a moderate conservative with a pragmatic approach to jurisprudence. However, in her younger days, she would face prejudice because of her gender which could have stifled what turned into a marvelous career. Related read: What We Know About The Mysterious Poisoning of Kyrylo Budanov’s Wife

Her Work for the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps

After obtaining degrees from Stanford, Sandra Day faced gender bias in law firms but later excelled in various legal roles as a secretary. During this time, she was a law review editor. It was in this role that she would meet her husband John Jay O’Connor III. The classmates dated and found themselves wed on December 20, 1952, before graduating. John decided to serve in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corp and was stationed in Frankfurt, West Germany between 1954 and 1956. This would springboard a unique opportunity for Sandra Day O'Connor, who began working as a civilian lawyer for the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps. Turning her opportunity into everything it could be, Sandra's career was taking off. For instance, Sandra Day O’Connor’s accomplishments would include:

  • A successful private practice in Arizona.
  • Serving as Arizona’s Assistant Attorney General.
  • Becoming the first woman to hold a position in the Senate with a majority leader (Republican).
  • Superior Court Judge for Maricopa County.
  • Appointment to the Arizona Court of Appeals in Phoenix.

Her career was off and running. Soon, she would catch the eye of President Ronald Regan who decided to fill the vacancy left by then retiring Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart. Consequently, O’Connor would get the job and hold it until her retirement in 2006. Sadly, John’s health would take a hit in the early 2000s due to Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, in a bid to spend more time with her family, Sandra retired in 2006 before John passed away on November 11, 2009, in Phoenix, Arizona at the age of 79.

When Did Sandra Day O’Connor Die?

On December 1, 2023, O’Connor passed away at the age of 93 following complications involving both her advanced dementia as well as a respiratory illness. From the time of John’s death, Sandra advocated for raising Alzheimer's awareness. Although Sandra Day O’Connor has moved on, her legacy lives forever. As a force for women and many other important legal decisions for America, O’Connor paved the way and guided difficult decisions for decades on end.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

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