Sandra Day O’Connor was an American attorney, politician who died on On December 1, 2023.
She became the first lady to be appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States of America in 1981.
She began her career at a time when opportunities for women were far and scarce. Hence, she acquired her first job as a lawyer after knocking several doors and offered to work free for an established advocate.
After years of labour, she was elected as the first female Majority Republican Leader in Arizona before she became an associate justice in the Supreme Court.
Known to be a federalist with moderate Republican views, she kept her opinions at bay in the courtroom and held the constitution of America as her guiding force.
During her career, she sought to empower women not only in America but around the world. After serving twenty four long years in the Supreme Court of the United States, she retired in 2006.
In honor of her services to the nation, she was awarded the highest civilian honour, the ‘Presidential Medal of Freedom’ by the then US President, Barack Obama.
Sandra Day O’Connor cause of death
Sandra Day O’Connor died in Phoenix of complications related to advanced dementia and a respiratory illness, according to a statement from the Supreme Court.
“A daughter of the American Southwest, Sandra Day O’Connor blazed an historic trail as our nation’s first female justice,” Chief Justice John Roberts said in a statement.
“She met that challenge with undaunted determination, indisputable ability, and engaging candor,” he said. “We at the Supreme Court mourn the loss of a beloved colleague, a fiercely independent defender of the rule of law, and an eloquent advocate for civics education.”
At the news of her death Friday, leaders in Washington sent their condolences.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell noted how she was ‘raised on an Arizona cattle ranch miles from the nearest paved road’ meaning that she was ‘destined for blazing new trails.’
‘From her election as the first female Majority Leader in the history of American legislatures to her confirmation as the first female Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, Sandra Day O’Connor led with a brilliance and conviction that disarmed resistance,’ the Kentucky Republican said.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called O’Connor one of the ‘true historic figures of the 20th century.’
‘In these tumultuous and divisive times, her calm, steady voice is missed more than ever. She was the conscience of the Court,’ the New York Democrat said.
Former President Donald Trump said he and former first lady Melania Trump were ‘saddened by the loss’ of O’Connor and highlighted a family connection.
‘She was a great friend of my Sister, the amazing Judge Marianne Trump Barry, who left us just a few weeks ago. My wonderful Sister and Justice O’Connor had deep respect and admiration for one another’s intellect and fairness, with Marianne receiving the Sandra Day O’Connor Medal of Honor,’ Trump said. ‘We send our deepest condolences and prayers to the entire O’Connor family.’
Sandra Day O’Connor age-
Sandra Day O’Connor was 93 years old at the time of her death.Sandra was born on 26th March, 1930 at El Paso, Texas to ranchers Harry and Ada.
She grew up on a 198,000-acre family cattle ranch near Duncan, Arizona. The ranch was nine miles from the nearest paved road.
The family home did not have running water or electricity until Sandra was seven years old. As a youth she owned a .22-caliber rifle and would shoot coyotes and jackrabbits.
She began driving as soon as she could see over the dashboard and had to learn to change flat tires herself. Sandra had two younger siblings, a sister and a brother, respectively eight and ten years her junior.
Her sister was Ann Day, who served in the Arizona Legislature. She later wrote a book with her brother, H. Alan Day, Lazy B: Growing up on a Cattle Ranch in the American West (2002), about her childhood experiences on the ranch.
For most of her early schooling, Day lived in El Paso with her maternal grandmother, and attended school at the Radford School for Girls, a private school.
The family cattle ranch was too far from any schools, although Day was able to return to the ranch for holidays and the summer.
Day spent her eighth-grade year living at the ranch and riding a bus 32 miles to school. She graduated sixth in her class at Austin High School in El Paso in 1946.
When she was 16 years old, Day enrolled at Stanford University.: 25 She graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in economics in 1950. She continued at Stanford Law School for her law degree in 1952.
There, she served on the Stanford Law Review with its presiding editor-in-chief, future Supreme Court chief justice William Rehnquist.
Sandra Day O’Connor net worth-
Sandra Day O’Connor was an American attorney, Supreme Court judge and politician who had a net worth of $8 million at the time of her death.
Sandra Day O’Connor husband-
Sandra Day O’Connor’s husband was John Jay O’Connor, a lawyer and law professor .
In 1952, O’Connor married John Jay O’Connor III. They met while they were both students Stanford Law School.
When O’Connor served on the Court, the couple was active in the Washington, DC social scene. For close to 20 years, her husband had Alzheimer’s.
He passed away in 2009. Since then, O’Connor worked to raise awareness of the illness. In 2018, she herself was diagnosed with a form of dementia.
Sandra Day O’Connor children-
Sandra Day O’Connor had three children, all sons: Scott, Brian, and Jay1. They were born in 1958, 1960, and 1962, respectively.
She raised them in Arizona, where she also pursued her legal and political career. She balanced her roles as a mother and a professional, and taught her sons to be independent and resilient.
She also co-authored a children’s book with one of her sons, Jay, titled Finding Susie, which is based on her own childhood experience of losing and finding a pet tortoise on the ranch.
Sandra Day O’Connor illness-
Dementia diagnosis: O’Connor announced in 2018 that she had the beginning stages of dementia and “probably Alzheimer’s disease.”
She said that her diagnosis was made “some time ago” and that as her condition progressed she was “no longer able to participate in public life.”
Death at 93: O’Connor died on December 1, 2023, at the age of 93. Her cause of death was complications related to advanced dementia and a respiratory illness.
She was survived by her three sons, six grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. She was praised by many for her legacy of moderation, pragmatism, and civility on the Supreme Court and beyond.
Source: www.www.atinkanews.net
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