Honoring Sandra Day O'Connor

Throughout history, pivotal moments, choices, and examples have shaped individuals, communities, and countries for years to come. In July 1981, President Ronald Regan made one of those choices when he nominated Sandra Day O’Connor as the first female Supreme Court Justice of the United States of America. 

Justice O’Connor passed away one year ago on December 1, 2023, but her impact, story, and legacy continue. We are honored to continue her important efforts in civic education, civic engagement, and civil discourse at the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy. 

When our founder created this organization, originally known as the O’Connor House, she made it clear the continued vision and mission of the Institute would help youth and adults find new ways to engage in their communities, learn about their government, and improve the communities we all live in. 

Today, in honor of Justice O’Connor, we are proud to announce a new educational resource that will make exploring and learning about her life more accessible than ever. The O’Connor Digital Library is the most comprehensive online resource cataloging her opinions, speeches, images, and more. We have made it easier than ever to learn about Justice O’Connor’s life before, during, and after her time on the Supreme Court. 

The Library features:

• A detailed timeline of the Justice’s life.
• A comprehensive list of awards and honors received throughout her public service.
• Videos, images, and interviews of the Justice and those who knew her. 
• An easy-to-search catalog of her Appellate Court, Supreme Court, and Retirement Opinions.
• And so much more. 

While she is sorely missed, we know she would be proud to see this new resource, the growing interest in Institute youth programs, and the phenomenal success of our multigenerational Civics for Life initiative. 

Finally, we invite you to watch this new video overview of the Institute as we continue supporting her legacy of public service through civic engagement, education, and civil discourse. Thank you for helping us honor this legendary woman every day.