Sandra O'connor Quotes & Sayings

I wanted to be a cattle rancher when I was young, because it was what I knew and I loved it. — Sandra Day O'Connor

My concern was whether I could do the job of a justice well enough to convince the nation that my appointment was the right move. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor decisions reflect, in my view, that our society has worked very hard to improve the workaday world, to open doors to workers confronted by powerful employers and for women facing harassment and stereotypes. — Joe Biden

The fact is, we are a nine-member court that sits on cases. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Apparently a great many people have forgotten that the framers of our Constitution went to such great effort to create an independent judicial branch that would not be subject to retaliation by either the executive branch or the legislative branch because of some decision made by those judges. — Sandra Day O'Connor

[Sandra Day O'Connor] is a justice whose graciousness and sense of duty fuels her continued service, even agreeing to serve more than six months after her retirement date. — Patrick Leahy

The Constitution does not protect the sovereignty of States for the benefit of the States or state governments as abstract political entities, or even for the benefit of the public officials governing the States. To the contrary, the Constitution divides authority between federal and state governments for the protection of individuals. — Sandra Day O'Connor

I care very much about women and their progress. I didn't go march in the streets, but when I was in the Arizona Legislature, one of the things that I did was to examine every single statute in the state of Arizona to pick out the ones that discriminated against women and get them changed. — Sandra Day O'Connor

What was a problem was the excessive amount of media attention to the appointment of the first woman and everything she did. Everywhere that Sandra went, the press was sure to go. And that got tiresome; it was stressful. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Abortion, however, is a big threshold issue for me because the dominant majority of people in my state are pro-choice, .. I ran as a pro-choice Democrat, and she fills Sandra Day O'Connor's shoes, and they are critical shoes. — Dianne Feinstein

The destiny of the woman must be shaped to a large extent on her own conception of her spiritual imperative and her place in society. — Sandra Day O'Connor

It matters enormously to a successful democratic society like ours that we have three branches of government, each with some independence and some control over the other two. That's set out in the Constitution. — Sandra Day O'Connor

I think I learned to appreciate and treasure each day, because you don't know how many you're going to be given. — Sandra Day O'Connor

The more education a woman has, the wider the gap between men's and women's earnings for the same work. — Sandra Day O'Connor

I have great respect for Sandra Day O'Connor. She has broken so many barriers for women in the law, and was a master negotiator and pragmatist in her days on the Supreme Court. — Kyrsten Sinema

I'm a judge. It seemed to me that it was critical to try to take action to stem the criticism and help people understand that in the constitutional framework, it's terribly important not to have a system of retaliation against decisions people don't like. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Each of us brings to our job, whatever it is, our lifetime of experience and our values. — Sandra Day O'Connor

As a citizen, you need to know how to be a part of it, how to express yourself - and not just by voting. — Sandra Day O'Connor

The really expert riders of horses let the horse know immediately who is in control, but then they guide the horse with loose reins and very seldom use the spurs. So it was with our chief [William Rehnquist]. He guided us with loose reins and used the spurs only rarely to get us up to speed with our work. — Sandra Day O'Connor

We hold that the reckless disregard for human life implicit in knowingly engaging in criminal activity known to carry a grave risk of death represents a highly culpable mental state that may be taken into account in making a capital sentencing judgment not inevitable, lethal result. — Sandra Day O'Connor

For both men and women the first step in getting power is to become visible to others, and then to put on an impressive show...As women achieve power, the barriers will fall. As society sees what women can do, as WOMEN see what women can do, there will be more women out there doing things, and we'll all be better off for it. — Sandra Day O'Connor

The power I exert on the court depends on the power of the power of my arguments, not my gender — Sandra Day O'Connor

Be aware that even before you have reached your ultimate professional destination, if you always strive for excellence, you can and should have a substantial impact on the world in which you live. — Sandra Day O'Connor

We don't accomplish anything in this world alone ... and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one's life and all the weavings of individual threads form one to another that creates something. — Sandra Day O'Connor

My sense is that jurists from other nations around the world understand that our court occupies a very special place in the American system, and that the court is rather well regarded in comparison, perhaps, to their own. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Even in my own time and in my own life, I have witnessed a revolution. — Sandra Day O'Connor

My hope is that 10 years from now, after I've been across the street at work for a while, they'll all be glad they gave me that wonderful vote. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Young women today often have very little appreciation for the real battles that took place to get women where they are today in this country. I don't know how much history young women today know about those battles. — Sandra Day O'Connor

We don't accomplish anything in the world alone and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry off one's life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that create something. — Sandra Day O'Connor

I tried to decide each case based on the law and the Constitution. — Sandra Day O'Connor

The Establishment Clause prohibits government from making adherence to a religion relevant in any way to a person's standing in the political community. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Justice Ginsburg is a very competent justice, and it is a joy to have her on the court, but particularly for me it is a pleasure to have a second woman on the court. — Sandra Day O'Connor

The purpose prong of the Lemon test requires that a government activity have a secular purpose. That requirement is not satisfied, however, by the mere existence of some secular purpose, however dominated by religious purposes ... The proper inquiry under the purpose prong of Lemon, I submit, is whether the government intends to convey a message of endorsement or disapproval of religion. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Less than one-third of eighth-graders can identify the historical purpose of the Declaration of Independence - and it's right there in the name. — Sandra Day O'Connor

For students, understanding the separate and unique functions of each branch of government can help them understand how different kinds of government officials can help solve different kinds of problems. — Sandra Day O'Connor

The members of the court were just delighted to have a ninth member - male or female. They were all kind and welcoming. — Sandra Day O'Connor

She [Justice sandra Day O'Connor] wrote - and this is one we should all remember - she wrote that even war is not a blank check for the president when it comes to the rights of the nation's citizens. She held that even this president is not above the law. — Patrick Leahy

Liberty finds no refuge in a jurisprudence of doubt. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Slaying the dragon of delay is no sport for the short-winded. — Sandra Day O'Connor

I owe a debt of gratitude to two other living Justices. Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg paved the way for me and so many other women in my generation. Their pioneering lives have created boundless possibilities for women in the law. I thank them for their inspiration and also for the personal kindnesses they have shown me. — Elena Kagan

How dare you make my life a felony. — Sandra Day O'Connor

And I went off to Stanford, I was pretty young and pretty naive. And I had a professor I really loved, who was himself a lawyer. — Sandra Day O'Connor

She [Justice sandra Day O'Connor] rejected the [George] Bush administration's claim that it could indefinitely detain a United States citizen. She upheld the fundamental principle of judicial review over the exercise of government power. — Patrick Leahy

As we have seen from Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's example, even one justice can profoundly alter the meaning of those words for our citizens. Even one justice can deeply affect the rights and liberties of the American people. — Edward Kennedy

Justice [Sandra Day] O'Connor also brought balance to our highest court; most recently, as been repeated many times, when she cautioned about how war doesn't give a blank check. — Joe Biden

A fundamental premise of American democratic theory is that government exists to serve the people ... Public records are one portal through which the people observe their government, ensuring its accountability, integrity, and equity while minimizing sovereign mischief and malfeasance — Sandra Day O'Connor

Occasionally we have to interpret an international treaty - one, perhaps, affecting airlines and liability for injury to passengers or damage to goods. Then, of course, we have to look to the precedents of other member nations in resolving issues. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Historically courts in this country have been insulated. We do not look beyond our borders for precedents. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Statutes authorizing unreasonable searches were the core concern of the framers of the 4th Amendment. — Sandra Day O'Connor

The framers of the Constitution were so clear in the federalist papers and elsewhere that they felt an independent judiciary was critical to the success of the nation. — Sandra Day O'Connor

I'm one that believes that Samuel Alito appointment on the Supreme Court is a pivotal appointment. And because he replace Sandra Day O'Connor and because she was the fifth vote on 148 cases, you well could be a very key and decisive vote. — Dianne Feinstein

I am deeply honored to have been nominated for a position on the Supreme Court. And I an humbled to have been nominated for the seat that is now held by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. — Samuel Alito

It was better for me when I was joined at the court by a second woman. When I was there alone, there was too much media focus on the one woman, and the minute we got another woman, that changed. — Sandra Day O'Connor

I've always said that at the end of the day, on a legal issue, I think a wise old woman and a wise old man are going to reach the same conclusion. — Sandra Day O'Connor

We pay a price when we deprive children of the exposure to the values, principles, and education they need to make them good citizens. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Those who would renegotiate the boundaries between church and state must therefore answer a difficult question: why would we trade a system that has served us so well for one that has served others so poorly? — Sandra Day O'Connor

[G]overnment endorsement ... of religion ... sends a message to nonadherents that they are outsiders, not full members of the political community, and an accompanying message to adherents that they are insiders, favored members of the political community. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor brought critical qualities to the high court that not everybody thinks are qualities - I happen to think they are - her pragmatism and her state craft. — Joe Biden

It's hard to have little children and a job and career at the same time. There is no time left for you as a woman. — Sandra Day O'Connor

The prima facie evidence provision in this case ignores all of the contextual factors that are necessary to decide whether a particular cross burning is intended to intimidate. The First Amendment does not permit such a shortcut. — Sandra Day O'Connor

A state of war is not a blank check for the president when it comes to the rights of the nation's citizens. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Do the best you can in every task, no matter how unimportant it may seem at the time. No one learns more about a problem than the person at the bottom. — Sandra Day O'Connor

It is true that as you have children, there are a good many months when you don't want to be working full-time. I agree that that's an issue. — Sandra Day O'Connor

I loved my husband very much, and it was heartbreaking to have him develop Alzheimer's disease, and to stand by and watch him decline in his ability to take care of himself. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Commitment to the rule of law provides a basic assurance that people can know what to expect whether what they do is popular or unpopular at the time. — Sandra Day O'Connor

I had become increasingly concerned in recent years about the lack of civics education in our nation's schools. In recent years, the schools have stopped teaching it. And it's unfortunate. — Sandra Day O'Connor

If I stumbled badly in doing the job, I think it would have made life more difficult for women, and that was a great concern of mine and still is. — Sandra Day O'Connor

We have a complex system of government. You have to teach it to every generation. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Suppose you had a cross burning in a play or a movie ... Would that be intimidating? — Sandra Day O'Connor

The proper role of the judiciary is one of interpreting and applying the law, not making it. — Sandra Day O'Connor

In my work a good library is essential. It enables me to learn the background and previous discussions of the various issues I am called upon to decide. It provides the stability and continuity for the rule of law. — Sandra Day O'Connor

I do not believe it is the function of the judiciary to step in and change the law because the times have changed. I do well understand the difference between legislating and judging. As a judge, it is not my function to develop public policy. — Sandra Day O'Connor

I don't know that there are any short cuts to doing a good job. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Being a member of the court is a lot like walking through fresh concrete. Do you remember doing that as a child and leaving a footprint and it hardens after you? I'm afraid that's what we do and we look back and we see those opinions we've written and they've sort of hardened after us. — Sandra Day O'Connor

(W)e do not count heads before enforcing the First Amendment. — Sandra Day O'Connor

The President must be true to his word. He must keep his faith with the folks who elected him twice. In other words, he must replace Sandra Day O'Connor with a strict constructionist. The president has a God-given opportunity to change the balance on the Supreme Court. On issue after issue - abortion, sodomy, public display of the Ten Commandments - O'Connor has sided with the court's liberal bloc. Time and again, Justice O'Connor and her colleagues have used the Constitution as an excuse to force weird social experiments on the nation. — Rick Scarborough

I need to retire from retirement. — Sandra Day O'Connor

I sort of thought the framers of the Constitution were talking about the rights of individuals, not corporate entities. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Her [Jurdge Sandra Day O'Connor] judgment has also been critical in protecting our environmental rights. She joined in 5-4 majorities affirming reproductive freedom and religious freedom and the Voting Rights Act. — Patrick Leahy

If a State refused to let religious groups use facilities open to others, then it would demonstrate not neutrality but hostility toward religion. — Sandra Day O'Connor

If statistics are any indication, the system may well be allowing some innocent defendants to be executed. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Any property may now be taken for the benefit of another private party, but the fallout from this decision will not be random. The beneficiaries are likely to be those citizens with disproportionate influence and power in the political process, including large corporations and development firms. As for the victims, the government now has license to transfer property from those with fewer resources to those with more. The Founders cannot have intended this perverse result. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Not that I've always agreed with what she said - far from it - but Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has been properly lauded, in my view, as a judge who approached her duties with open-mindedness and with a sensitivity that affects her decisions would have on everyday, ordinary people. — Joe Biden

This chance will stand before you only once. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Justice [Sandra Day] O'Connor has been the critical decisive vote on many issues that go to the heart of who we are as a nation. — Dick Durbin

Parents should continue to become more involved with their communities, and more involved in their children's education. — Sandra Day O'Connor

It is the individual who can and does make a difference even in this increasingly populous, complex world of ours. The individual can make things happen. It is the individual who can bring a tear to my eye and then cause me to take pen in hand. It is the individual who has acted or tried to act who will not only force a decision but also have a hand in shaping it. Whether acting in the legal, governmental, or private realm, one concerned and dedicated person can meaningful affect what some consider an uncaring world. So give freely of yourself always to your family, your friends, your community, and your country. The world will pay you back many times over. — Sandra Day O'Connor

August 19, 1981: President Ronald Reagan nominates Sandra Day O'Connor to be the first woman on the Supreme Court. Male justices who had made noises over the years about resigning if a woman ever joined their ranks stay put. — Irin Carmon

The No Child Left Behind Program was an incentive to the schools to get their kids up to snuff on math and science and reading. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Arizonians are deeply proud of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's service to this country. She will always be remembered by Arizonans and all Americans as an extraordinary public servant. — Jon Kyl

Society as a whole benefits immeasurably from a climate in which all persons, regardless of race or gender, may have the opportunity to earn respect, responsibility, advancement and remuneration based on ability. — Sandra Day O'Connor

In terms of having the American people look at the court and think of it as being fair and appropriate for our nation, it helps to have women, plural, on the court. — Sandra Day O'Connor

I regret that some on the extreme right have been so critical of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and have adamantly opposed the naming of a successor who shares her judicial philosophy and qualities. And their criticism actually reflects poorly upon them. — Patrick Leahy

The family unit plays a critical role in our society and in the training of the generation to come. — Sandra Day O'Connor

She [Justice Sandra Day O'Connor], unlike, Judge Bork, did not think that being on the court would be an "intellectual feast," to quote Judge [Robert Heron] Bork. — Joe Biden

If you take a position under the Constitution that is against the majority view, you have to explain it well enough that maybe you can persuade some of that majority to agree with you. — Sandra Day O'Connor

The abortion cases produced an enormous amount of mail to my chambers, vastly more than to the other chambers, I am sure. I sometimes thought there wasn't a woman in the United States who didn't write me a letter on one side or the other of that issue. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Despite the encouraging and wonderful gains and the changes for women which have occurred in my lifetime, there is still room to advance and to promote correction of the remaining deficiencies and imbalances. — Sandra Day O'Connor

A moment of silence is not inherently religious. — Sandra Day O'Connor

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor serves as a model Supreme Court justice, widely recognized as a jurist with practical values, a sense of the consequences of the legal decisions being made by the Supreme Court. — Patrick Leahy