Retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court passed away Friday. She was 93 years old.
“A daughter of the American Southwest, Sandra Day O’Connor blazed a historic trail as our Nation’s first female Justice,” Chief Justice John Roberts said in a statement.
“She met that challenge with undaunted determination, indisputable ability, and engaging candor. We at the Supreme Court mourn the loss of a beloved colleague, a fiercely independent defender of the rule of law, and an eloquent advocate for civics education,” he continued. “And we celebrate her enduring legacy as a true public servant and patriot.”
O’Connor died of “complications related to advanced dementia, probably Alzheimer’s, and a respiratory illness,” the court announced in a statement.
Just over a decade after she retired, O’Connor announced in 2018 that she was withdrawing from public life after being diagnosed with dementia.
Nominated by then-President Reagan in 1981, O’Connor became the first woman to serve on the nation’s highest bench.
This is a breaking news story. Click refresh for the latest updates.
