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Born
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Graduated from Standford Law School
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Served as deputy county attorney of San Mateo County, California
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Married John Jay O'Connor III
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Served as civilian attorney for Quartermaster Market Center, Frankfurt, Germany
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Practiced law in Maryvale, Arizona
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Worked as assistant attorney general in Arizona
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Elected to 2 two-year terms in Arizona State Senate
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Judge of the Maricopa County Superior Court
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Selected to serve on the Arizona Court of Appeals
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Reagan nominated Sandra as a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
Sh received unanimous approval from Senate. -
Sworn into the Supreme Court
Associate Justice, court seat #9
First woman to serve as a justice for the Supreme Court; broke new ground for women in the legal field -
Penry v. Lynaugh
O'Connor wrote the majority opinion ruling that a mentally retarded murderer with the reasoning capacity of a 7-year-old could be executed. This was not a violation of the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition of “cruel and unusual punishments” because, she said, “there is insufficient evidence of a national consensus against executing mentally retarded people convicted of capital offenses.” -
Plannes Parenthood v. Casey
She wrote the Court's decision on Planned Parenthood v. Casey on June 29, 1992 that upheld Roe v. Wade. -
Bush v. Gore
O'Connor voted to stop the recount in Florida during the 2000 elections -
Atkins v. Virginia
Changed her opinion from the Penry v. Lynaugh case and ruled that “death is not a suitable punishment for a mentally retarded criminal.” -
Retired
Served for 24 years in the Supreme Court. -
Given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama
