Sandra Day O'Connor Day

Today, September 25th, we celebrate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor (age 93) who was the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court in 1981 where she served until 2006 when she retired.  She remained active as a tireless advocate for judicial independence and the Rule of Law throughout the world. In recognition of her lifetime accomplishments, President Barack Obama awarded Justice O’Connor with the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, on August 12, 2009.  As a legislator, O'Connor worked towards changing various state laws that discriminated against women. She helped repeal a 1913 Arizona statute prohibiting women from working more than eight hours a day, which had been used to prevent women from seeking and keeping jobs.