Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the nation’s highest court, has died at 93.
In a statement on Friday, the Supreme Court said O’Connor died in Phoenix, Arizona due to “complications related to advanced dementia, probably Alzheimer’s, and a respiratory illness.”
JUST IN #SCOTUS Justice Sandra Day O’Connor has died. She is the first woman to sit on the nation’s highest court. She was 93 years old. pic.twitter.com/TtwgV0Wg3c
— Nicole (@nicninh) December 1, 2023
O’Connor was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981 and retired from the court in 2006.
In a statement, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts praised her tenure as he said, “A daughter of the American Southwest, Sandra Day O’Connor blazed an historic trail as our Nation’s first female Justice. She met that challenge with undaunted determination, indisputable ability, and engaging candor.”
“We at the Supreme Court mourn the loss of a beloved colleague, a fiercely independent defender of the rule of law, and an eloquent advocate for civics education. And we celebrate her enduring legacy as a true public servant and patriot,” he added.
