Sandra Day O’Connor, the pioneering female lawyer who became the first woman to sit on the Supreme Court, has died at 93.
Per the court's announcement on Friday morning, her death was due to “complications related to advanced dementia, probably Alzheimer’s, and a respiratory illness.”
O’Connor was appointed to the court by President Ronald Reagan in 1981 and held the role until her retirement in 2006. Her nomination inspired generations of women to pursue law, including five female justices who'd eventually follow in her footsteps (four of whom are currently serving).
She will be remembered, in particular, for the defining role she played in court decisions on hotly contested issues such as abortion, affirmative action, voting rights, religion, and discrimination on the basis of sex. O'Connor was a moderate conservative but could frequently be counted on to deliver an influential swing vote.
Sandra Day O’Connor made her diagnosis with early-stage dementia public in a 2018 letter, writing: “While the final chapter of my life with dementia may be trying, nothing has diminished my gratitude and deep appreciation for the countless blessings of my life.”
