“When Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was confirmed to the Supreme Court in 1981, she not only ended nearly two centuries of America’s highest court being all-male — she also blazed a trail for generations of jurists who would follow in her footsteps. But beyond the historic nature of her ascension to the Court, Justice O’Connor's legacy is defined by her commitment to judicial restraint and even-handedness. 

“As a rancher’s daughter — who spent her youth rounding up cattle and repairing trucks — and as a former state legislator and state court judge, Justice O’Connor respected, and strove to uphold, the separation of powers and the careful balance of federalism. Her principled and independent jurisprudence helped inspire public confidence in the judiciary and our democratic system of government during her 24 years on the Supreme Court.

“Tammy and I mourn Justice O’Connor’s loss and send our deepest condolences to her three children, Scott, Brian, and Jay, along with all six of her grandchildren.”