[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 31, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE RETIREMENT OF JUSTICE SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today has been an extraordinarily historic 
and eventful day, one in which we have paid tribute to, and reflected 
upon, the great deeds and towering leadership of some of the most 
consequential individuals of the 20th century. It has also been a fast-
paced day of action, of looking to the future, guiding America toward 
our most cherished goals and most cherished ideals.
  One person we honor today, who has helped lead that journey, is 
retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. For over two 
decades, Justice O'Connor has presided over some of the most complex, 
difficult, and vexing debates of our times.
  Justice O'Connor, who turns 76 this year, retires with a sterling 
reputation as a brilliant legal scholar, a fair and impartial jurist, 
and an individual of impeccable personal integrity.
  Born in the humble town of El Paso, TX, to Harry and Ada Mae, the 
young Sandra Day grew up on her family's cattle ranch in southeastern 
Arizona. It was not far and wasn't long to Stanford University where 
she graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in economics. 
She was accepted into the university's prestigious school of law and 
earned a coveted position on the law review's board of editors. She 
completed law school in only 2 years and finished near the top of her 
class. Among her classmates was a young man who would later sit beside 
her on the highest Court in the land: the late Chief Justice William 
Rehnquist.
  Despite her extraordinary credentials, the private sector didn't 
easily welcome a woman into its male-dominated ranks. After a 
frustrating job search in the private sector, the young lawyer began 
her career as Deputy County Attorney of San Mateo, CA. A 4-year stint 
in Europe, where her husband was posted, and 3 sons later, Sandra Day 
O'Connor became Arizona's Assistant Attorney General in 1965.
  She served 4 years before being appointed to fill an unexpired seat 
in the Arizona State Senate. In the State senate she proved herself an 
adept and popular lawmaker. She rose to its highest office to become 
the first woman State majority leader ever in the history of the United 
States.
  In 1975, Sandra Day O'Connor was elected judge of the Maricopa County 
Superior Court, and 4 years later, in 1979, was appointed to the 
Arizona Court of Appeals. There she served until President Ronald 
Reagan appointed her Associate Justice to the Supreme Court.
  Twenty-five years ago, on September 21, 1981, the Senate unanimously 
confirmed her nomination. On that day, Sandra Day O'Connor again made 
history. She became the first female Justice in the Court's history. 
When asked for her reaction to her nomination, Sandra Day O'Connor 
said:

       I can only say I will approach [my work on the bench] with 
     care and effort and do the best job I possibly can do.

  So she has. Justice O'Connor has served with distinction and as an 
example to all Americans that, through persistence and hard work, the 
highest peaks can be achieved. Despite her early professional 
obstacles, she never surrendered her determination, her focus, nor did 
she surrender her Southwestern roots. Fiercely proud of her heritage, 
Justice O'Connor and her brother H. Alan Day authored a best selling 
memoir entitled ``Lazy B: Growing Up on a Cattle Ranch in the American 
Southwest.'' Anyone who has entered the inner compounds of Justice 
O'Connor's Supreme Court office has seen that sign that reads: 
``Cowgirl Parking Only: All Others will be Towed.''
  About 11 years ago, when Karen and I first came to Washington, DC, we 
didn't really know anybody here. We were a little bit lost, a physician 
and his family moving to this city. We early on met John and Justice 
O'Connor. Since that time, we have had the opportunity to be with them 
socially. We respect their wonderful and loving relationship, which has 
been always and continues to be manifested in so many wonderful ways. 
They welcomed our family to this Washington community and expressed 
that welcome in warm and heartfelt ways, again and again.
  To echo the worlds of Ronald Reagan, Sandra Day O'Connor is ``truly a 
`person for all seasons,' possessing those unique qualities of 
temperament, fairness, intellectual capacity and devotion to the public 
good which have characterized the 101 `brethren' who have preceded 
her.''
  Sandra Day O'Connor has served this country for over five decades as 
an Arizona State Senator and majority leader, State court judge, 
assistant State attorney general, and in the capacity of which she will 
long be remembered, as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of 
America. The ``cowgirl from Arizona'' may never have dreamed of riding 
to the highest Court in the land but, boy oh boy, is America fortunate 
that she did.
  On behalf of my fellow Senators and the American people, I offer my 
deepest gratitude to Justice O'Connor for her service to this great 
Nation, and I wish Mrs. O'Connor the best in all of her future 
endeavors.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (The remarks of Mr. Frist are printed in today's Record under 
``Morning Business.'')
  (The remarks of Mr. Chambliss are printed in today's Record under 
``Morning Business.'')
  Mr. CHAMBLISS. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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