[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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