Quotes by Sandra Day O'Connor

About Sandra Day O'Connor:

Sandra Day O'Connor is a retired associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, serving from her appointment in 1981 by Ronald Reagan until her retirement in 2006. She was the first woman to be appointed to the Court.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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

There was no hostility at the court when I arrived.

Sandra Day O'Connor

The fact is, we are a nine-member court that sits on cases.

Sandra Day O'Connor

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 ...

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

Historically courts in this country have been insulated. We do not look beyond our borders for precedents.

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 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 issu...

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

If parents instill a sense of civic-mindedness - and there is no better way to do that than by example - their children will probably follow.

Sandra Day O'Connor

I tried to decide each case based on the law and the Constitution.

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

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

Each of us brings to our job, whatever it is, our lifetime of experience and our values.

Sandra Day O'Connor

The freedom to criticize judges and other public officials is necessary to a vibrant democracy. The problem comes when healthy criticism is replaced with more destructive intimidation and sanctions.

Sandra Day O'Connor

The freedom to criticize judges and other public officials is necessary to a vibrant democracy.

Sandra Day O'Connor

Having family responsibilities and concerns just has to make you a more understanding person.

Sandra Day O'Connor

You have citizens who don't understand how government works and they're kind of soured on it. All they do is criticize. They have no idea that they can make things happen.

Sandra Day O'Connor

We have a complex system of government. You have to teach it to every generation.

Sandra Day O'Connor

Half the states have stopped making civics and government a requirement for high school. Half.

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

Author Bio

  • NameSandra Day O'Connor
  • DescriptionFormer Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
  • BornMarch 26, 1930
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionJudge; Lawyer; Politician
  • AwardsPresidential Medal Of Freedom; Philadelphia Liberty Medal; Brandeis Medal; National Women's Hall Of Fame