[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 39 (Wednesday, March 17, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H1524-H1526]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING SUPREME COURT JUSTICE SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1141) honoring the accomplishments of Supreme Court 
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to serve on the United 
States Supreme Court.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1141

       Whereas Sandra Day O'Connor was born on March 26, 1930, in 
     El Paso, Texas and spent most of her childhood on her 
     family's ranch, the Lazy B, located in the high deserts 
     outside of Duncan, Arizona;
       Whereas Sandra Day O'Connor graduated magna cum laude from 
     Stanford University in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 
     economics, and graduated in the top three of her class at 
     Stanford University Law School in 1952;
       Whereas Sandra Day O'Connor married John J. O'Connor III, a 
     fellow Stanford Law student, in December 1952 on the Lazy B 
     Ranch and raised three children with him in Paradise Valley, 
     Arizona;
       Whereas after practicing law in Frankfurt, Germany, and 
     Phoenix, Arizona, Sandra Day O'Connor began her career in 
     public service as the Arizona Assistant Attorney General in 
     1965;
       Whereas Sandra Day O'Connor was appointed to the Arizona 
     State Senate in 1969 and was subsequently re-elected;
       Whereas Sandra Day O'Connor rose to many leadership 
     positions during her 6 years in the legislature, including as 
     the first woman State Senate majority leader in the United 
     States;
       Whereas Sandra Day O'Connor was elected judge for Maricopa 
     County Superior Court in 1975;
       Whereas Sandra Day O'Connor was appointed to the Arizona 
     Court of Appeals, the State's second-highest court, by 
     Governor Bruce Babbitt in 1979;
       Whereas Ronald Reagan nominated Sandra Day O'Connor in 1981 
     to serve as the first woman on the United States Supreme 
     Court, which was swiftly approved by the Senate by unanimous 
     consent, with the strong support of Arizona Senators Barry 
     Goldwater and Dennis Deconcini;
       Whereas Sandra Day O'Connor was sworn in as a United States 
     Supreme Court Justice by Chief Justice Warren Burger on 
     September 25, 1981, commencing her 24 terms on the Supreme 
     Court, a career distinguished by her centrist role and 
     commitment to uphold the law and the Constitution;
       Whereas Sandra Day O'Connor's support for the proposed 
     Equal Rights Amendment further strengthened her role as a 
     mentor and leader for women of all generations;
       Whereas, on August 12, 2009, President Barack Obama awarded 
     Sandra Day O'Connor the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the 
     highest honor given to a civilian;
       Whereas Sandra Day O'Connor has become a nationally 
     recognized leader in the effort to preserve judicial 
     independence through her strong support of selecting judges 
     by nonpartisan commissions;

[[Page H1525]]

       Whereas Sandra Day O'Connor continues to honor her 
     commitment to public service, most recently through her web-
     based education project, Our Courts, which strives to engage 
     young people in civics and the democratic process; and
       Whereas Sandra Day O'Connor will turn 80 years old on March 
     26, 2010: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors the 
     achievements and distinguished career of Justice Sandra Day 
     O'Connor, and recognizes her impact as an American symbol of 
     hard work and rugged individualism.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Cohen) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.


                             General Leave

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. 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 the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. COHEN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to wish you and all of America a happy St. 
Patrick's Day, and in support of House Resolution 1141, to honor the 
accomplishments of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
  Justice O'Connor blazed paths of history for women throughout her 
career. In 1969, she was appointed to the Arizona State Senate, and in 
1972 she became the first woman to serve as the majority leader of any 
State senate in the United States.
  Later, she became a trial judge for Maricopa County, Arizona, and 
only a few years later was appointed to the court of appeals. Then in 
1981, she was nominated to the Supreme Court, the first woman to sit on 
the United States Supreme Court, and she did us proud.
  Justice O'Connor retired in 2006, but she continues to be actively 
involved with promoting good government and civic education. For 
example, she spearheaded ``Our Courts,'' a Web-based education project 
designed to reinvigorate learning inside and outside the classroom.
  There were so many opinions when she was a part of the majority and 
also when she was a part of the minority to where we know her voice is 
missed today. Although appointed by a Republican President, she was 
bipartisan and called them by the book and did a lot to see that this 
country's Supreme Court was highly respected and not politicized.
  This resolution is a way to honor her for service to our country. I 
commend my colleague, Gabby Giffords of Arizona, for introducing this 
resolution. I urge my colleagues to support it. I hope we have more 
Justices like her in the future.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1141 honors the accomplishments of the Honorable 
Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to serve on the United States 
Supreme Court.
  Justice O'Connor was born in El Paso, Texas, in 1930, and grew up on 
a cattle ranch called the Lazy-B near Duncan, Arizona. She befriended 
cowboys who worked on the ranch, learned to drive a car and shoot a 
gun, and became an expert horseback rider.
  Her parents decided that she needed an education, so O'Connor went to 
live with her maternal grandmother in El Paso. She later studied 
economics at Stanford University with an eye toward running the Lazy-B 
or another ranch. However, a legal dispute over the Lazy-B sparked her 
interest in the law. O'Connor enrolled in Stanford's law school, and 
graduated in only 2 years, third in her class, that included 
valedictorian and future Chief Justice of the United States William 
Rehnquist. One of her other classmates, John Jay O'Connor, became her 
husband.
  This was the early 1950s, and despite her stellar law school record, 
O'Connor could not find work as a lawyer. But she was determined. She 
started out as a legal secretary before finding employment as the 
deputy county attorney for San Mateo, California. When her husband was 
drafted into the Judge Advocate General's Corps, she joined him in 
Frankfurt, Germany, where she served as a civilian attorney in the 
Quartermaster's Corps.
  Returning to the United States in 1957, the couple settled in Phoenix 
and started a family. Three children arrived in the next 6 years. 
O'Connor eventually hung out a shingle with one partner and began a 
general law practice. But with the birth of her second child, she 
devoted herself to homemaker duties, charitable work, and local 
Republican politics.
  Following 5 years as a full-time mother, O'Connor returned to work as 
an Arizona assistant attorney general. Later, the Governor appointed 
her to fill a vacant State senate seat, a position she successfully 
defended twice in two elections. In 1974, O'Connor became the first 
woman to serve as the majority leader in the State legislature. This 
achievement propelled her to the bench, first as a Maricopa County 
Superior Court judge and then in 1978 as a member of the Arizona Court 
of Appeals, the State's intermediate appellate court. Justice O'Connor 
distinguished herself as a smart, fair, even-tempered judge.
  This compelling story intrigued President Ronald Reagan, who was 
searching for a successor to replace retiring Justice Potter Stewart at 
the United States Supreme Court. In Sandra Day O'Connor, he found his 
nominee.
  Senate confirmations are not for the faint-hearted, but O'Connor came 
through like an experienced pro. She was confirmed by a vote of 99-0 
and was sworn in as the 102nd member of the Court on September 21, 
1981. Of obvious importance, then and now, she became the first woman 
to serve as an Associate Justice. So much for glass ceilings.
  Justice O'Connor served on the Court for nearly a quarter of a 
century before retiring in 2006. Early in her tenure, she was known as 
a conservative jurist who preferred analyzing cases with a narrow fact-
specific approach. Later, she acquired the reputation as a swing vote. 
Law Professor Steven Green once paid her perhaps the ultimate 
compliment when she ``seemed to look at each case with an open mind.''
  Since retiring from the Court, Justice O'Connor really hasn't 
retired. She selflessly devoted herself to caring for her husband, 
John, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1990 and passed 
away last November.
  In addition to travel and spending time with other family members, 
Justice O'Connor has worked on an American Bar Association project to 
educate Americans about the role of judges, served as the chancellor of 
the College of William and Mary, and performed trustee duties for the 
National Constitution Center.
  In recognition of her life's work, President Obama awarded her the 
Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor of the United 
States, on August 12, 2009.
  Mr. Speaker, Sandra Day O'Connor is a pioneer for women and an 
inspiration to all Americans. I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 
1141, which honors her many accomplishments.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to reiterate my extreme 
commendations of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's life and the 
appropriateness of the resolution.
  When I was a member of the National Conference of State Legislators, 
I suggested we give an award each year to the State legislator who had 
done the most later in their lives, and Sandra Day O'Connor as well as 
Julian Bond were the two people I put up as examples of people who 
should be honored by the National Conference of State Legislators to 
encourage State legislatures to go on beyond that and to do extra in 
their lives.
  And Sandra Day O'Connor was a State senator who did much. And, as Mr. 
Smith said, she had an open mind, and that is something we need to 
commend. And in Arizona, where Representative Giffords is from and 
sponsored this resolution, we had Barry Goldwater who, like her, came 
in at a certain posture. But as his career went on, he had an open 
mind, and he stood up for tolerance and he stood up for diversity.
  I am proud to be here to speak in favor of this resolution, and I 
would

[[Page H1526]]

ask that my colleagues vote to support unanimously this resolution and 
to pass H. Res. 1141.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H. Res. 1141 honors the accomplishments of the Honorable Sandra Day 
O'Connor, the first women to serve on the United States Supreme Court.
  Justice O'Connor was born in El Paso, Texas, in 1930 and grew up on a 
cattle ranch called the ``Lazy-B'' near Duncan, Arizona. The ranch was 
isolated and she did not have a sibling to play with until she turned 
eight. To compensate, young Sandra demonstrated the initiative and 
drive that would later propel her to the Court.
  She befriended cowboys who worked on the ranch, learned to drive a 
car and shoot a gun, and became an expert equestrian. She also kept 
many pets during her childhood, including a bobcat, which probably 
taught her how to deal with lawyers.
  Her parents decided she needed an education, so O'Connor went to live 
with her maternal grandmother, Mamie Scott Wilkey, in El Paso. Although 
homesick, O'Connor became an outstanding student and graduated from the 
Radford School for Girls at age 16. O'Connor always credited Mrs. 
Wilkey for instilling confidence in her.
  She later studied economics at Stanford with an eye toward running 
the Lazy-B or another ranch. However, a legal dispute over the Lazy-B 
sparked her interest in the law. O'Connor enrolled in Stanford's law 
school and graduated in only 2 years, third in her class that included 
valedictorian and future Chief Justice of the United States William 
Rehnquist. One of her other classmates, John Jay O'Connor, became her 
husband.
  This was the early 1950s and, despite her stellar law school record, 
O'Connor could not find work as a lawyer. The legal profession was not 
an easy place for women at that time.
  But O'Connor was determined. She started out as a legal secretary 
before finding employment as the deputy county attorney for San Mateo, 
California. When her husband was drafted into the Judge Advocate 
General's Corps, she joined him in Frankfurt, Germany, where she served 
as a civilian attorney in the Quartermaster's Corps.
  Returning to the United States in 1957, the couple settled in Phoenix 
and started a family--three children arrived in the next six years. 
O'Connor eventually hung out a shingle with one partner and began a 
general law practice. But with the birth of her second child, she 
devoted herself to homemaker duties, charitable work, and local 
Republican politics.
  Following five years as a full-time mother, O'Connor returned to work 
as an Arizona assistant attorney general. Later, the governor appointed 
her to fill a vacant state senate seat, a position she successfully 
defended twice in successive elections. By 1974, O'Connor had become 
the first woman to serve as the majority leader in a state legislature. 
This achievement propelled her to the bench--first as a Maricopa County 
Superior Court judge and then, in 1978, as a member of the Arizona 
Court of Appeals, the state's intermediate appellate court.
  Justice O'Connor distinguished herself as a smart, fair, even-
tempered judge. She had overcome de facto discrimination through 
persistence, hard work, and a devotion to institutions and causes 
bigger than herself.
  This compelling story intrigued President Ronald Reagan, who was 
searching for a successor to replace retiring Justice Potter Stewart at 
the United States Supreme Court. In Sandra Day O'Connor, he found his 
nominee.
  Senate confirmations are not for the faint-hearted, but O'Connor came 
through like an experienced pro. She was confirmed by a vote of 99-0 
and was sworn as the 102nd member of the Court on September 21, 1981. 
Of obvious importance then and now, she became the first women to serve 
as an Associate Justice.
  Justice O'Connor served on the Court for nearly a quarter of a 
century before retiring in 2006. Early in her tenure, she was known as 
a conservative jurist who preferred analyzing cases with a narrow, 
fact-specific approach. Later, she acquired the reputation as a ``swing 
vote.'' Law Professor Steven Green once paid her perhaps the ultimate 
compliment when he observed that she ``seemed to look at each case with 
an open mind.''
  Since retiring from the Court, Justice O'Connor really hasn't 
retired. She selflessly devoted herself to caring for her husband, 
John, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in 1990 and passed 
away last November.
  In addition to travel and spending time with other family members, 
Justice O'Connor has worked on an ABA project to educate Americans 
about the role of judges, served as a the Chancellor of The College of 
William & Mary, and performed trustee duties for the National 
Constitution Center.
  In recognition of her life's work, she was awarded the Presidential 
Medal of Freedom--the highest civilian honor of the United States--on 
August 12, 2009.
  Mr. Speaker, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is a pioneer for women and 
an inspiration to all Americans. I urge my colleagues to support H. 
Res. 1141, which honors her many accomplishments.
  Mr. COHEN. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1141.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. COHEN. 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 motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________