Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Discusses New Book at Wiley Rein

April 4, 2013

Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, shared insights from her nearly 25 years on the bench during a book-signing event hosted yesterday by Wiley Rein.

Justice O’Connor discussed her new book, Out of Order: Stories from the History of the Supreme Court, with Andrew McBride, co-chair of the firm’s Appellate Practice. Mr. McBride clerked for Justice O’Connor at the Supreme Court and graduated from her alma mater, Stanford Law School.

“I am very pleased to be here today to share insights into my recent book, Out of Order, which explores the surprisingly humble beginnings and fascinating yet little-known stories behind the development of our nation’s most influential court,” Justice O’Connor said. “I hope these chronicles will entertain and inform readers of the inner workings and transformational growth of our government.”

Justice O'Connor, who grew up on a cattle ranch, served as a state senator and judge in Arizona before President Ronald Reagan appointed her to the Supreme Court in 1981. She retired from the Court in 2006, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s top civilian honor, by President Barack Obama in 2009.

She marveled at how far women have come in the legal profession since the 1950s, when she was told by dozens of law firms, “We don’t hire women.” Having spent her first 12 terms as the Supreme Court’s only female member, Justice O’Connor said she is “very happy” that three women now serve on the nine-member Court.