President Biden at Memorial Service for Justice Sandra Day O’Connor:
Gracious and wise, civil and principled, Sandra Day O’Connor, a daughter of the American West, was a pioneer in her own right, breaking down the barriers in the legal and political worlds and the nation’s consciousness.
To her, the Supreme Court was bedrock — the bedrock of America. It was a vital — a vital line of defense for the values and the vision of our republic, devoted not to the pursuit of power for power’s sake but to make real the promise of America — the American promise that holds that we’re all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives.
The high court, she said in her opening statement, and I quote, “is the body to which all Americans look for the ultimate protection of their rights. It the United States Supreme Court that we all turn when we seek that which we want most from our government: equal justice under law.” End of quote.
Equal justice under law is the noble as- — the noblest aspiration of humankind and the aspiration of Sandra Day O’Connor, one that she pursued her whole life.
The last Justice to have held elected office, she was especially conscious of the law’s real impact on people’s lives.
One need not agree with all her decisions in order to recognize that her principles were deeply held and of the highest order — and that her desire for civility was genuine