The U.S. Supreme Court announced that former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor died today from complications of dementia and a respiratory illness. O’Connor was the first woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court. President Ronald Reagan nominated her in 1981, and she was confirmed by the Senate with a vote of 99-0. O’Connor was considered a moderate, and some saw her to be a swing vote, deciding many Supreme Court cases.
O’Connor announced her intention to retire to President George W. Bush, and retired from the Court in 2006, when her replacement, Associate Justice Samuel Alito, was sworn in.
O’Connor’s career accomplishments were respected and admired by both Republicans and Democrats, and President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.
