Modern (1930-2023) · Justice & Civic
Sandra Day O'Connor
“We don't accomplish anything in this world alone, and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one's life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that creates something.”
Sandra Day O'Connor was the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States, appointed in 1981. A rancher's daughter from Arizona, she brought a pragmatic, coalition-building temperament to the bench and was for decades the decisive vote in the Court's most consequential cases. She favored narrow rulings, judicial restraint, and decisions that left room for democratic life to keep working.
Known for
- Pragmatic centrism
- Coalition building
- Judicial restraint
- Plain Western directness
Best for
- Decisions with many stakeholders
- Avoiding overreach
- Finding the narrowest workable answer
- Practical ethics
JusticeWisdomPatienceCharacterLeadership
Their signature question
“What is the narrowest decision that still does the right thing?”