O'Connor, Sandra Day (1930-)

Sandra Day O'Connor was sworn in as a member of the U.S. Supreme Court on September 25, 1981. She was the first female associate justice of the Supreme Court, and she served from 1981 to 2006. Justice O'Connor distinguished herself on the Supreme Court as an articulate voice. As part of the federalism movement, she approached each dispute on a case-by-case basis. O'Connor's opinions were conservative during the years of the Burger Court. However, she was later regarded as occupying the ideological center, often serving as the Court's swing vote.

Early Years

O'Connor was born on March 26, 1930, in El Paso, Texas, the daughter of Harry A. Day and Ad Mae Wilkey Day. In 1952, she married John Jay O'Connor III; they have three sons, Scott, ...

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