[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 24 (Wednesday, March 1, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H458-H461]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING JUSTICE SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 357) honoring Justice Sandra Day 
O'Connor.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 357

       Whereas Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was born on March 26, 
     1930, in El Paso, Texas, and grew up in both El Paso and 
     southeastern Arizona on her family's ranch;
       Whereas Justice Sandra Day O'Connor graduated magna cum 
     laude from Stanford University in 1950 with a baccalaureate 
     degree in economics;
       Whereas Justice Sandra Day O'Connor graduated from Stanford 
     Law School and was ranked third in a class of 102 graduates;
       Whereas Justice Sandra Day O'Connor completed law school in 
     2 years, instead of the customary 3, and served on the 
     Stanford Law Review;
       Whereas Justice Sandra Day O'Connor entered the public 
     sector after her graduation from Stanford Law School as a 
     deputy county attorney for San Mateo County in California, 
     after she was unable to secure a position in a number of 
     private law firms that employed very few, if any, women as 
     attorneys;
       Whereas Justice Sandra Day O'Connor served as Assistant 
     Attorney General of Arizona from 1965 to 1969;
       Whereas Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was appointed to the 
     Arizona State Senate in 1969 and was subsequently reelected 
     to 2 2-year terms;
       Whereas Justice Sandra Day O'Connor became the State Senate 
     Majority Leader in Arizona in 1973, the first woman to serve 
     in that position in any State;
       Whereas Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was elected in 1975 as 
     a judge on the Maricopa County Superior Court in Arizona, and 
     served in that position until 1979;
       Whereas Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was appointed to the 
     Arizona Court of Appeals in 1979 and served in that position 
     until her confirmation as an Associate Supreme Court Justice;
       Whereas in 1981, President Ronald Reagan nominated Sandra 
     Day O'Connor to be the 102d Supreme Court justice and the 
     first female member of the Supreme Court;
       Whereas Sandra Day O'Connor was confirmed by the United 
     States Senate unanimously on September 21, 1981, and took her 
     seat on the Supreme Court on September 25, 1981;
       Whereas the elevation of Sandra Day O'Connor as the first 
     female justice of the Supreme Court helped pave the way for 
     more women to enter into the legal profession;
       Whereas in 2004, women accounted for approximately half of 
     all students enrolled in law school, compared to 35 percent 
     of law students in 1981 and just 4 percent of law students 
     when Justice O'Connor graduated from Stanford Law School in 
     1952;
       Whereas Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has left a thoughtful 
     and enduring mark on American jurisprudence, which has been 
     molded through her wisdom and strong character; and
       Whereas Justice Sandra Day O'Connor blazed new trails for 
     her gender and is a role model for all Americans; Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) honors Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the occasion of 
     her retirement from the United States Supreme Court;
       (2) commends Justice Sandra Day O'Connor for her hard work 
     and dedication to the law; and
       (3) recognizes Justice Sandra Day O'Connor as a pioneer for 
     women in law, helping women become a permanent and integral 
     part of the legal profession.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Zoe Lofgren) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on House Resolution 357 
currently under consideration.

[[Page H459]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution which 
commemorates the life and career of former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor 
upon her retirement from the United States Supreme Court.
  Justice O'Connor's 24 years on the Supreme Court capped a 
distinguished four-decade career of public service. Born in El Paso, 
Texas, on March 26, 1930, and raised in rural Arizona, O'Connor served 
on the Law Review at Stanford Law School and took just 2 years to 
finish the normal 3-year curriculum. She graduated third in a class of 
102, which included former Chief Justice of the United States William 
H. Rehnquist.
  Unable to find work at law firms that at the time refused to hire 
female attorneys, she became a deputy county attorney in San Mateo 
County, California. This was the first of many public sector jobs 
Justice O'Connor held throughout her career. She served as the 
assistant attorney general of Arizona from 1965 to 1969, and then in 
the Arizona State senate from 1969 to 1975. In 1973, Justice O'Connor 
became the first woman in any State to become the majority leader of a 
State senate.
  She began her career as a jurist in 1975 when she was elected to 
become a judge in the Maricopa County Superior Court. She was 
subsequently appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals in 1979 and 
served in that capacity until President Ronald Reagan nominated her to 
fill the seat of former Justice Potter Stewart on August 19, 1981. The 
U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Justice O'Connor on September 21, 
1981, and she was sworn in 4 days later, making her the 102nd, and 
first female, Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
  She served a decisive role in crafting the majority opinion in many 
important cases, but perhaps her greatest accomplishment was in serving 
as a role model to countless women. Indeed, at the time Justice 
O'Connor graduated from Stanford Law School, women comprised just 4 
percent of all law school students. By 2004, women accounted for 
approximately half of all students enrolled in law schools.
  Throughout her entire career, Justice O'Connor put public service 
first. Even as she announced her retirement on July 1, 2005, she agreed 
to serve until the President could nominate and the Senate confirm her 
replacement.
  I would like to thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-
Waite) for introducing this resolution. I urge all of my colleagues to 
join me in supporting it, and in wishing Justice O'Connor a happy and 
relaxing retirement with her husband, John.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I am very proud to join my colleagues today to honor a 
woman who not only contributed immensely to American jurisprudence, but 
also showed tremendous courage and perseverance in finding her way to 
the top of the legal field at a time when the legal field was virtually 
closed to women.
  Justice Sandra Day O'Connor graduated magna cum laude in 1950 with a 
bachelor's degree in economics from Stanford University, my alma mater. 
In just 2 years, instead of the usual 3 years, Justice O'Connor 
graduated third in her class at Stanford Law School in 1952 at a time, 
as the chairman has said, when only 4 percent of law school graduates 
were women.
  Despite her impressive law school record and obvious talent, Justice 
O'Connor could not find a single law firm that would give her a job 
after graduation, but that did not deter her. She heard that San Mateo 
County in California, the county just to the north of my home, had once 
hired a female attorney and so she decided to go there in search of her 
first legal job, but she learned that there was not enough funding in 
place or a place in the office for her to work.
  That did not deter her. She wrote a long letter explaining why she 
should be hired and offered to start work for free. She placed her desk 
in the same area where the secretaries sat. She got the job and before 
long a paid position opened up and she took it.
  Justice O'Connor's perseverance did not end there. She went on to 
become an assistant attorney general for Arizona. She was appointed and 
later elected to the Arizona State senate, elected as a county judge, 
and appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals.
  Justice O'Connor has been a leader for women in many ways. She became 
the first woman to serve as the majority leader of the Arizona State 
senate and the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, paving 
the way and opening the door for the next generation of women to 
substantively participate in the field of law. In fact, I feel, as a 
lawyer myself, a debt of gratitude to Justice O'Connor for the 
groundbreaking path that she laid for all of us who followed.
  But let us not forget that she was not only a symbol of hope for 
aspiring women lawyers all around the Nation, but she has also been a 
powerful contributor to our American jurisprudence, often the pivotal 
fifth vote on some of the most important issues in modern American 
history that came before the U.S. Supreme Court.
  I strongly urge my colleagues in the House to unanimously approve 
this resolution honoring this extraordinary woman, and I look forward 
to a unanimous vote of support by the House of Representatives.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown-Waite), the author of the 
resolution.
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. I thank the chairman for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, today is the first day in which our Nation celebrates 
the achievements of American women during Women's History Month. 
Honoring the service of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is an excellent way 
to kick off this celebration.
  When Justice O'Connor first set out on her journey, the dream of 
attending law school was not something a woman commonly achieved. Women 
in her day were encouraged to stay in the home, supporting the men who 
ran the country. Justice O'Connor's success to find work in the law 
profession exemplifies the determination that she had to achieve 
greatness. By defying society restrictions, today she offers great hope 
to the women of every generation.
  Justice O'Connor is an inspiration to women across the Nation. She 
won acclaim as the first woman to be appointed to the United States 
Supreme Court and her retirement marks the end of an era.
  During her service of 25 years on the Court, Justice O'Connor 
established a reputation as a key decision maker. By sticking to her 
philosophy of drawing practical conclusions when determining her final 
decision, she would often cast the deciding vote. Widely known as one 
of the most influential women in the United States, this title is often 
attributed to the dynamic Justice O'Connor brought to the United States 
Supreme Court.
  Madam Speaker, little girls and young women take for granted today 
what women such as Justice O'Connor accomplished in earlier 
generations. As cochair of the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues, 
I am honored to have offered this resolution today to remind us all, 
both men and women, to remain true to our beliefs and question the 
obstacles that others have put in place.
  I am privileged to have witnessed the work of Justice Sandra Day 
O'Connor, and I look forward to supporting House Resolution 357 this 
afternoon. I certainly appreciate the Judiciary Committee and our 
awesome chairman for allowing this to be put on the agenda and that we 
have it on the floor before us today.
  Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I have no further 
requests for time.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Schmidt).
  (Mrs. SCHMIDT asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 357, 
honoring former United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor 
and commend my colleague from Florida, Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite, for her

[[Page H460]]

work on this legislation and Chairman Sensenbrenner for allowing this 
to go through.

                              {time}  1315

  In 1981, when Sandra Day O'Connor was unanimously confirmed to the 
seat previously held by my fellow Cincinnatian, Justice Potter Stewart, 
as the first woman Justice, it was a very different time in America. 
After 24 years serving our Nation, it can be said that her legacy is 
multifaceted: one of the most influential Justices in history; 
certainly one of the most powerful women in America; and a pioneer in 
every sense of the word.
  We know she was born in El Paso to parents who owned a 198,000-acre 
cattle ranch in southeastern Arizona. There she learned roping and 
riding but also the self-reliance and determination that influenced her 
life. Despite her many achievements at Stanford and Stanford Law 
School, law review, graduating in 2 years instead of three, and third 
in her class of 120, no law firm would hire her because she was a 
woman. She turned to public service and was Arizona's assistant 
attorney general, the first woman majority leader of the State senate, 
a trial judge and an Arizona court of appeals judge before being named 
to the United States Supreme Court. Maybe it is good no law firm would 
hire her.
  Although I have not always agreed with her on every decision, Justice 
O'Connor stood for federalism, pragmatism, compromise and interpreting, 
not legislating, the law. She considered each case individually on its 
own merits. Her hallmarks of integrity, diligence, and fairness have 
been woven through every task she has undertaken.
  Balancing the demands of a career and family, Justice O'Connor set a 
positive example for women, especially young women. She once said, 
``Society as a whole benefits immeasurably from a climate in which all 
persons, regardless of race or gender, may have the opportunity to earn 
respect, responsibility, advancement and remuneration based on 
ability.''
  During Women's History Month, it is especially fitting that we honor 
her.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the bill 
introduced by the gentlelady from Florida. As a member of the 
Congressional Women's Caucus, I applaud Justice Sandra Day O'Connor for 
her leadership as the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.
  Appointment of Justice O'Connor added life to the women's movement, 
and when Justice Ginsburg was appointed, we had 2 very strong allies 
when these matters came before the high court. Her judicious leadership 
stood out when she joined Justices Souter and Kennedy in crafting a 
compromise to uphold Roe v. Wade in the Planned Parenthood v. Casey 
decision--that included the standard of limiting state regulation of 
abortions to the threshold of causing an ``undue burden'' on a woman's 
right to choose.
  Justice O'Connor helped to protect affirmative action by making the 
swing vote in the 5-to-4 decision of Grutter v. Bollinger. This 
decision was a landmark that still has precedential value in terms of 
preserving the notion that there is not only the right to due process 
in the law at stake but the value of racial diversity in education.
  Most recently, though, many of us on both sides of the aisle commend 
Justice O'Connor for her dissent in the recent Supreme Court decision 
of Kelo v. City of New London et. al (No. 04-108. Argued February 22, 
2005--Decided June 23, 2005), in which she stated that
       [a]ny property may now be taken for the benefit of another 
     private party, but the fallout from this decision will not be 
     random. The beneficiaries are likely to be those citizens 
     with disproportionate influence and power in the political 
     process, including large corporations and development firms . 
     . . [t]he Founders cannot have intended this perverse result. 
     `[T]hat alone is a just government,' wrote James Madison, 
     `which impartially secures to every man, whatever is his 
     own.'
  I hope that the Court will continue this kind of sound judgment and 
leadership on matters of such great significance to our disadvantaged 
communities.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation, and I thank Justice O'Connor 
for her service to our Highest Court.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, which 
honors the career of one of this Nation's most respected jurists, 
Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Not only did Justice O'Connor 
leave an indelible impression on the law but also on the legal 
profession itself.
  As an Associate Justice, Mrs. O'Connor had a well-deserved reputation 
for being the swing vote on seminal cases. From campaign finance laws 
to affirmative action and sexual orientation discrimination, many 
Supreme Court lawyers tailored their arguments to her because of her 
ability and willingness to see the complexity of the issues that came 
before the court.
  She also left her mark on the diversity of the legal profession. When 
she graduated from law school in 1952, ranked no less than 3rd in her 
class of 102 students, gender discrimination kept her from jobs at law 
firms. This was a time when women comprised only 4 percent of law 
graduates. Instead, she turned to public service and embarked upon a 
stellar career as a State prosecutor, State legislator, and State 
judge.
  It was in her capacity as an Arizona Court of Appeals judge in 1981 
that Justice O'Connor came to the attention of the White House. 
President Reagan nominated her to fill the seat of Justice Potter 
Stewart. On September 21, 1981, the Senate unanimously confirmed her to 
be the 102d Justice of the Supreme Court and the 1st female justice in 
history.
  With Justice O'Connor as an example, the ranks of female lawyers have 
grown tremendously in this country. In 1981, the year of her 
appointment, women made up 35 percent of law students. In 2004, they 
made up approximately 50 percent. It would be impossible to overstate 
Justice O'Connor's role in that achievement. I thank her for her 
service to our country and wish her the best.
  I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this resolution.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the 
resolution honoring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
  Justice O'Connor served as a role model at a time when very few women 
were pursuing legal careers. Even before she was appointed to the 
United States Supreme Court, Justice O'Connor's career was one to 
follow. She served as a government lawyer, general practitioner, agency 
attorney, state legislator, and a judge at both the trial and appellate 
levels.
  As the first woman ever to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice 
O'Connor was a steady--albeit unpredictable--presence on the bench. She 
was incredibly thoughtful and deliberate with her decisions, evaluating 
every case on its merits.
  Justice O'Connor earned her place in history, making a permanent mark 
on the judicial system that will forever inspire girls and women 
throughout America. She will be greatly missed.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 
support of H. Res. 357, honoring fellow Texan and former Supreme Court 
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. As the first woman inducted into the 
Supreme Court, Sandra Day O'Connor broke through gender barriers and a 
glass ceiling that had existed for almost two centuries.
  Her outstanding service to America and the Supreme Court serves as a 
role model not only to women, but to anyone who was told they couldn't 
do a job based on bias and negative perception. Throughout her life, 
Justice O'Connor continually rose above prejudice--forming her own law 
firm when no one would hire her, and becoming the first woman to hold 
the position of majority leader in the Arizona State Senate.
  Sandra Day O'Connor became one of the most powerful women in U.S. 
History. Instead of rebelling against a male-dominated society, Justice 
O'Connor sought to change the world by working within the system. Her 
decisions on controversial cases such as abortion, affirmative action, 
the death penalty, and religious freedom have changed the American 
landscape and will continue to impact us far into the future.
  I commend Justice O'Connor for her years of service and for serving 
as a role model for so many Americans.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 
357, Honoring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Honoring Justice O'Connor's 
career as a jurist with this resolution is significant as she was a 
pioneer for women in the legal profession.
  Nominated for the Supreme Court by President Reagan and confirmed by 
the U.S. Senate in 1981, Justice O'Connor became the 102nd Justice of 
the U.S. Supreme Court, and its first woman member. Justice O'Connor 
served honorably until her retirement on January 31, 2006. Justice 
O'Connor retired from the bench and from public service with the same 
grace and dignity with which she served. Her commitment to the 
Constitution, to public service, and to the United States will serve as 
inspiration for young Americans for years to come. Her work while on 
the Court will continue to provide needed guidance as American law 
continues to evolve. Her legacy of attacking bias not only against 
women but against all groups through jurisprudence benefits us all.
  Justice O'Connor is the product of humble beginnings. In school, 
Justice O'Connor worked hard, earning numerous achievements while 
overcoming many obstacles in her path

[[Page H461]]

to success. Upon graduation, Justice O'Connor found it difficult to 
obtain a position with any law firm due to her gender despite having 
earned honors as an undergraduate and a law student at Stanford 
University. Undaunted, she created her own opportunities, partnering 
with a colleague and beginning her own firm. Shortly thereafter, 
Justice O'Connor placed her career on hold to become a mother. During 
this time, Justice O'Connor devoted herself to volunteer activities 
with the Arizona State Hospital, the Arizona State Bar, the Salvation 
Army and several local schools.
  Justice O'Connor returned to practicing law after 5 years as a full-
time mother and assumed a position with the Arizona Attorney General's 
office. In 1969, she was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Arizona 
State Senate and 4 years later was the first woman to serve as the 
chamber's majority leader. This leadership role, however, only marked 
the beginning of her groundbreaking professional accomplishments.
  In 1974, Justice O'Connor was nominated for a judgeship position in 
the Maricopa County Superior Court and nominated to the Arizona Court 
of Appeals 5 years later. As a result of her work on the Arizona Court 
of Appeals President Reagan nominated her to serve on the Supreme 
Court. Justice O'Connor's career proves that there is no barrier to 
large, no challenge to great, and no position to lofty to attain for a 
woman of integrity, conviction and intelligence.
  Justice O'Connor is among the pioneering women of our time. She 
stands as a testament to what a fearless spirit, a determined heart and 
a sharp mind can achieve in the face of bias and tradition. Today, only 
one woman now serves on the Supreme Court, but we now that more will 
follow in the footsteps of Justice O'Connor.
  Although Justice O'Connor is most widely recognized for her 24 years 
as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, she deserves to be 
recognized for leading of life of humanity, of dedication to public 
service, and one of commitment to making our country more fair, 
tolerant, and a better place to live. Her lifetime of achievements in 
the field of law and public service will always be remembered. Our 
country thanks her for the example she has set.
  Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield back my time.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back my time as well.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bradley of New Hampshire). The question 
is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. 
Sensenbrenner) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution, H. Res. 357.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

                          ____________________