Donald Trump took to his Truth social app and revealed that Melania and he are saddened by the loss of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
Melania and I are saddened by the loss of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. She was a great friend of my Sister, the amazing Judge Marianne Trump Barry, who left us just a few weeks ago. My wonderful Sister and Justice O’Connor had deep respect and admiration for one another’s intellect and fairness, with Marianne receiving the Sandra Day O’Connor Medal of Honor. We send our deepest condolences and prayers to the entire O’Connor family. Donald Trump Truth Social 12:53 PM EST 12/01/23
According to USA Today, retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the trailblazing first woman to serve on the Supreme Court and a pivotal swing vote during her nearly 25-year tenure, passed away at the age of 93. A central figure in landmark Supreme Court decisions involving abortion, affirmative action, and civil rights, O’Connor retired in 2006. In 2018, she disclosed her dementia diagnosis and withdrew from public life.
Nominated by President Ronald Reagan, O’Connor joined the Supreme Court in 1981 after a distinguished career, including being the first woman to serve as majority leader in Arizona’s state Senate. She played a crucial role in shaping major opinions, serving as a swing vote in numerous high-profile cases and earning recognition as one of the most powerful women in the nation.
O’Connor’s significant contributions include her involvement in the 1992 opinion in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, upholding a woman’s right to abortion while allowing states to impose restrictions. However, this decision, along with the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, faced overturning by the court’s conservative majority in the previous year.
Notably, O’Connor authored the majority opinion in Grutter v. Bollinger (2003), allowing universities to consider race in admissions to enhance minority enrollment. This precedent was overturned in the recent Supreme Court decisions striking down affirmative action policies at Harvard and the University of North Carolina.
Her pivotal role extended to the court’s 5-4 ruling in favor of George W. Bush in the disputed 2000 presidential election, where she later expressed reservations about the court’s involvement, acknowledging its impact on public perception.
Born in Texas and raised on a cattle ranch in rural Arizona, O’Connor’s early life experiences influenced her commitment to federalism and state rights. Facing gender-based discrimination early in her legal career, she overcame obstacles, including working without pay, to become a trailblazer in the legal profession.
