Breaking Barriers

Ronald Reagan

“Now, if there are no qualified women, I understand,” said Ronald Reagan “But I can’t believe there isn’t one. It is going to be a woman” Reagan was trying to get the women's vote in the upcoming election. In July 1981, President Ronald Regan nominated O’Connor and she was confirmed unanimously in September by the U.S. Senate.

Early Work

In her first year, she faced nothing more important than a couple of interviews about her views on abortion. Some of her biggest cases include Planned Parenthood (1992), Bush v. Gore (2000), McConnel v. FEC (2003), Grutter v. Bollinger (2003).

"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

Stepping Up

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Sandra Day O'Connor and Chief Justice Warren Burger, Sept. 25, 1981, The Journal Times

Sandra Day O'Connor on the day she was nominated

Sandra Day O'Connor, 1984, Az Library

Reputation

O’Connor quickly became known as a Justice who was tough even though she could be emotional and felt empathy for the defendants. As said by Thomas E. Baker, a law professor, "lawyers direct their arguments at her because they see that she is going to take the case and decide on the facts in a way that a more theorized Justice won't". O'Connor’s way of organization and prosecuting made her the balancing point of the Court. O’Connor had the mindfulness, dispassion, dedication, and firmness that made her very powerful in the Court. She proved that women could be professional in that line of work. Her experience in the Arizona Legislature most likely was her biggest influence in terms of her frame of mind.

The Court