Sandra Day O'Connor

The proper role of the judiciary is one of interpreting and applying the law, not making it.

— Sandra Day O'Connor

A state of war is not a blank check... when it comes to the rights of the Nation's citizens.

— Sandra Day O'Connor

I sort of thought the framers of the Constitution were talking about the rights of individuals, not corporate entities.

— Sandra Day O'Connor

I wanted to be a cattle rancher when I was young, because it was what I knew and I loved it.

— Sandra Day O'Connor

Yes, I will bring the understanding of a woman to the Court, but I doubt that alone will affect my decisions.

— Sandra Day O'Connor

Suppose you had a cross burning in a play or a movie... Would that be intimidating?

— Sandra Day O'Connor

The No Child Left Behind Program was an incentive to the schools to get their kids up to snuff on math and…

— Sandra Day O'Connor

We expect that 25 years from now, the use of racial preferences will no longer be necessary to further the interest approved today.

— Sandra Day O'Connor

In terms of having the American people look at the court and think of it as being fair and appropriate for our…

— Sandra Day O'Connor

I think it's inevitable that some of the court's decisions will be found by a segment of the public to be not…

— Sandra Day O'Connor

The abortion cases produced an enormous amount of mail to my chambers, vastly more than to the other chambers, I am sure.…

— Sandra Day O'Connor

My sense is that jurists from other nations around the world understand that our court occupies a very special place in the…

— Sandra Day O'Connor

I think we may be seeing the beginnings of a resurgence of civic-mindedness in this country. Hopefully the younger generations, which came…

— Sandra Day O'Connor

Justice Ginsburg is a very competent justice, and it is a joy to have her on the court, but particularly for me…

— Sandra Day O'Connor

If parents instill a sense of civic-mindedness - and there is no better way to do that than by example - their…

— Sandra Day O'Connor

Commitment to the rule of law provides a basic assurance that people can know what to expect whether what they do is…

— Sandra Day O'Connor

being a member of the court is a lot like walking through fresh concrete. Do you remember doing that as a child…

— Sandra Day O'Connor

A fundamental premise of American democratic theory is that government exists to serve the people. ... Public records are one portal through…

— Sandra Day O'Connor

You have to answer the question, like it or not. And the questions deserve a valid legal response, even if the response…

— Sandra Day O'Connor

The purpose prong of the Lemon test requires that a government activity have a secular purpose. That requirement is not satisfied, however,…

— Sandra Day O'Connor

I care very much about women and their progress. I didn't go march in the streets, but when I was in the…

— Sandra Day O'Connor

Historically, it took a long time before the court took any women law clerks. Finally, it did, but the numbers have never…

— Sandra Day O'Connor

My concerns through the years increased about the concerns of an independent judiciary and how we maintain it. Certainly in the states.…

— Sandra Day O'Connor

What the framers of the Constitution tried to achieve when they wrote that Constitution back in the 1700s was an independent federal…

— Sandra Day O'Connor

“A state of war is not a blank check for the president when it comes to the rights of the nation's citizens.”

— Sandra Day O'Connor

Each justice hires their own clerks, and applications are made individually to the justices. It isn't a group decision.

— Sandra Day O'Connor

Historically courts in this country have been insulated. We do not look beyond our borders for precedents.

— Sandra Day O'Connor

We have a complex system of government. You have to teach it to every generation.

— Sandra Day O'Connor

I like to think that the court will continue to be held in high regard by the public. I think it should…

— Sandra Day O'Connor

Statutes authorizing unreasonable searches were the core concern of the framers of the 4th Amendment.

— Sandra Day O'Connor

The freedom to criticize judges and other public officials is necessary to a vibrant democracy.

— Sandra Day O'Connor

Each of us brings to our job, whatever it is, our lifetime of experience and our values.

— Sandra Day O'Connor

The more education a woman has, the wider the gap between men's and women's earnings for the same work.

— Sandra Day O'Connor

It is difficult to discern a serious threat to religious liberty from a room of silent, thoughtful schoolchildren.

— Sandra Day O'Connor

I don't think it's the court's perceived role to do some explaining of a political nature.

— Sandra Day O'Connor

The members of the court were just delighted to have a ninth member - male or female. They were all kind and…

— Sandra Day O'Connor

The power I exert on the court depends on the power of my arguments, not on my gender.

— Sandra Day O'Connor

I think I learned to appreciate and treasure each day, because you don't know how many you're going to be given.

— Sandra Day O'Connor

It's hard to have little children and a job and career at the same time. There is no time left for you…

— Sandra Day O'Connor

Parents should continue to become more involved with their communities, and more involved in their children's education.

— Sandra Day O'Connor