Key takeaways:
- The Supreme Court paid tribute to the late Justice Sandra Day O’Connor with her casket passing under the words “Equal Justice Under Law”
- Mourners paid their respects to O’Connor in the Great Hall, which opened to the public from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- O’Connor was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1981 and served until 2006, known for her moderate conservatism and her ability to build consensus among her colleagues.
Today, the Supreme Court paid tribute to the late Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the court and an unwavering voice of moderate conservatism for more than two decades. O’Connor’s casket was carried up the steps of the court, which was lined by her former clerks, and passed under the iconic words engraved on the pediment, “Equal Justice Under Law,” before being placed in the court’s Great Hall.
Mourners paid their respects to O’Connor in the Great Hall, which opened to the public from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. A private ceremony was held before the hall opened, attended by all nine members of the current court and retired Justice Anthony Kennedy.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor spoke at the private ceremony, noting that O’Connor was enthusiastic about bringing the Supreme Court judges together for lunches, dinners and barbecues, movies and theater, and even visits to her ranch in Arizona. “The heavens shed a tear this morning,” Sotomayor said.
O’Connor died Dec. 1 at the age of 93. She was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan and served until 2006. During her tenure, she was known for her moderate conservatism and her ability to build consensus among her colleagues.
The Supreme Court’s tribute to O’Connor is a fitting tribute to her legacy. Her casket passing under the words “Equal Justice Under Law” is a reminder of her commitment to justice and equality for all.
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