Home > Sandra Day O'Connor
2 Law in the center of politics
The first woman appointed to Supreme Court, O’Connor has become one the most-watched justices on the Court. She is part of the federalism revolution and approaches each case as narrowly as possible, avoiding generalizations which might later “paint her into a corner” for future cases. Although she formed part of the conservative axis during the later years of the Burger Court, with the departure of the last members of the liberal Warren Court, she is now regarded as occupying the ideological center. It is both O’Connor’s dedication to asserting her judicial power over that of other federal institutions and her pragmatic circumspection that has given her a deciding centrist vote for many of the Rehnquist Court’s cases. Some have called her 'the most powerful woman in the country.'
On December 12, 2000, O’Connor joined with four other justices to rule on the case in which effectively decided the 2000 election in favor of George W. Bush ( Bush v. Gore). Never before had such a decision been made by a U.S. court. O'Connor had been quoted by Newsweek magazine as expressing dismay to friends on the night of the election, when Al Gore was reported to have won several key states, and critics suggested that she did not want Gore to appoint her successor. Some charged that the Supreme Court made a power grab through its 5-4 party-line decision. Others note that the Court specifically restricted the precedent-setting effect of the decision by holding, "Our consideration is limited to the present circumstances, for the problem of equal protection in election processes generally presents many complexities."
Justice O'Connor has played an important role in other notable cases, including Webster v. Reproductive Health Services and Lawrence v. Texas. Some suggest that, in making her decisions, O’Connor not only considers the merits of the case and her personal views, but also focuses too much on the prevailing politics of the day. Others counter that she holds very nuanced views and decides each case on its merits. In any event, she is frequently the justice to whom oral and written arguments are directed because she is so frequently the deciding vote.
Justice O'Connor was successfully treated for breast cancer in 1988, and there has long been speculation that she might retire from the Court. Other observers have suggested that she may be named Chief Justice of the United States when William H. Rehnquist leaves the court.
3 External links
O'Connor, Sandra Day
O'Connor, Sandra Day
O'Connor, Sandra Day
