Sandra Day O'Connor: How the First Woman on the Supreme Court Became Its Most Influential Justice

by Joan Biskupic, Mary Hill, Nancy Jooyoun Kim

Book Overview

Sandra Day O'Connor, America's first woman justice, became the axis on which the Supreme Court turned. She was called the most powerful woman in America, and it was often said that to gauge the direction of American law, one need look only to O'Connor's vote. Then, just one year short of a quarter century on the bench, she surprised her colleagues and the nation by announcing her retirement.

Drawing on information from once-private papers...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060590181
• ISBN13: 9780060590185
• Release Date: October 2005
• Publisher: Ecco Press
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Engaging

This is a most engaging portrait of a model justice in the common law tradition. Justice O'Connor is a true American icon of humble and hardworking origins rising to the heights of leadership based on character, critical thinking and an ethic of service. Her good will and civility toward those with whom she disagreed is an example to follow. The narrative is well informed, nuanced and flows steadily in a current that merges national, judicial and personal events in the judge's life most artfully. A wonderful book about a wonderful lady and an excellent Supreme Court justice. It is the likes of Sandra Day O'Connor that make one proud to be an American. And though I've never (yet) voted Republican she is also one more beautiful reason to love Ronald Reagan.

For Our Daughters

This is the book I want my daughter to read as she finishes high school and considers the world of ahead. The story of Sandra Day O'Connor's life is the story of our country and the news events that have shaped our national policy from abortion rights to 911 and to the election of our president. Joan Biskupic is a skilled reporter, who makes you wonder "how did she get that information." O'Connor is presented as a deal-maker, centrist and yet in her own right she was her own woman sponsoring yoga classes in the all male bastion of the Supreme Court gym "the hightest court in the land."

Good Review of the Little Known Court

Although it isn't structured that way, this book really seems to have three major components: First this book provides an insight into how the third core of our Government functions. It's a story of people, none of them are stupid, but like all people they have moments when they are smarter than at some times. It is also a story of how the other two, more political arms of the Government tend to force the courts to 'make law' so that they can then complain that the courts are 'making law.' The Terry Schivo is a classic example. Thrown to the Congress, who didn't want such a political hot potato, they could then complain about the decision. Second, this is a story of how a nominally arch conservative person, gets to the court and moves distinctly towards the center. In the current debate over replacement justices. The far left, and the far right are screaming a lot. It's a comfort to know that the middle is probably pretty safe. Third, this is a good biography of an extremely competent lady who came a long way from a remote ranch in Arizona. It clearly makes her out as a woman who served herself, her family, and our country very well. Ms. Biskupic, a lawyer herself, has done a supurb job.

A Brilliant Portrait of a Unique Woman

With the current focus on President's Bush's efforts to "pack" the Supreme Court with ideological conservatives, Ms. Biskupic's book is even more timely and important. "Sandra Day O'Connor-How the First Woman on the S. Ct. Became Its Most Influential Justice", is an excellent and insightful biography of a key figure on the Court today. Writing with a journalist's eye and a lawyer's anaylsis, Ms. Biskupic manages to distill complex legal cases into comprehensible events. This is no small feat and it makes the O'Connor biography accessible to everyone interested in the vital issues we confront today (abortion, affirmative action, sexual discrimination, death penalty etc). This biography provides an insider's pespective on how justices are chosen, vetted, and confirmed within the political process. We learn insights about Justice O'Connor's friendship with the late Chief Justice Rehnquist and her lobbying efforts on his behalf when he was first nominated to the bench. We see the deftness with which Justice O'Connor handled her own successsful confirmation process. Yet the most exiciting part of Ms. Biskupic's book is Justice O'Connor's rise to becoming one of the most influential members of the Court; it reads almost like a great novel (notwithstanding the 1000 scholarly and informative footnotes) with pace, excitement and surprise. The books underscores the point that Justices can be shaped by the Coourt as well as shape its case law. "Sandra Day O'Connor" is a must read for anyone interested in the last quarter century of American and Supreme Court history.

A Fine Judicial Biography at a most Opportune Time

One measure of a solid judicial biography is how complete a picture it fills out of the justice as a person. By this, and other measures, Joan Biskupic has contributed an important study of the Justice just at the point when it is most helpful--her perhaps extended "retirement" from the Court. Biskupic is the former Supreme Court reporter for the Washington Post and, more recently, USA Today. Her long time vantage point observing the Court extends at least back to the early 1990's, and this rich perspective strengthens the book. The initial four chapters sketch out in appropriate detail O'Connor's personal and professional history. Biskupic particularly well interweaves personal developments with O'Connor's deep involvement in Republican politics (close ties to Goldwater; co-state chair for Nixon in 1972), service in the Arizona legislature, and her period as a Superior Court and appellate judge in the state system. Also, her early and close personal ties with William Rehnquist during this pre-Court Arizona period are well discussed. Strange as it may seem, her legislative record suggested sympathy for abortion rights, and this would cause her later problems during her confirmation, even though she lost interest in passing the ERA. These initial chapters give the reader a pretty solid grasp on O'Connor as a person, her values and ambitions, her competitive nature, and political skills (such as cultivating a friendship with Warren Burger) during this period. The next several chapters are of particular interest given recent developments at the Court. The confirmation process was smooth, except for allegations by an Arizona national abortion opponent (and neighbor of O'Connor) that she was in favor of abortion. This occurred even though, according to Bikupic, O'Connor had told President Reagan she was "personally against abortion." A chapter also is devoted to her transition to the Court and the development of some of her early positions: tough on criminal justice issues and habeas corpus availablity; pro-state authority and opposed to federal intervention; pro-death penalty. Biskupic is particularly effective in articulating the Justice's positions on various issues, without invoking a large number of cases which could bury the reader. O'Connor's policy positions and approach stand out with clarity as a result. I found the most interesting section of the book focused on what might be termed the "O'Connor techniques." This relates to how she was able to perhaps out-Brennan Justice Brennan in exerting persuasive influence on her colleagues, especially as more GOP-nominated justices joined the Court. But the author's account of how O'Connor would draft opinions to pick up additional votes is extremely valuable. In short, this technique involved incremental "straddling" of different positions, abstaining from crafting broad constitutional rules without the potential for future doctrinal evolution, never deciding more than needed to be