As the founder of the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor devoted her life to advancing civics education, civic engagement, and civil discourse. Her words continue to inspire generations to approach public life with respect, curiosity, and integrity.
This growing collection features Justice O’Connor’s reflections on topics that remain as relevant today as ever—civility, leadership, public service, and the responsibilities of citizenship.
From her speeches and interviews to her conversations with students and community members, these excerpts offer timeless wisdom from a trailblazer who believed deeply in the power of dialogue and understanding.
Explore the Wisdom and Insight of Justice O'Connor
The Importance of Civility
On June 29, 2011, retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor spoke to students at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia. Following her introductions by Dean Harry Harding and James Todd, PhD, himself a lawyer and professor in the Political Science department at the University of Virginia, Justice O'Connor spoke on a myriad of topics, including civility. Below are excerpts from her remarks on the topic:
"We have to get together first! The discourse among public figures and in the legislature and so forth is not even courteous. It’s loud and raucous—raucous—and often insulting. And I don’t like that. I do not think that’s the way to get issues resolved. I think you have to treat people who are trying to resolve an issue—you have to treat each other with respect and decency and try to talk it out. I mean, that’s what you have to do. And approach it in a decent way. And we’re not all doing that in this country today. And I think it’s very disturbing. And I am all for it (civil discourse).”
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