Shrouded in genuine mourn and deep respect, the casket of the late Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor lays in repose, as colleagues, citizens, and the country at large pay tribute to an icon. Justice O'Connor, who took her last breath on December 1st at the age of 93, cracked open the marble ceiling as the first woman to grace the nation's highest court in 1981, thereby altering its historical boys-club stature.
A close-up gaze at the ceremony revealed heartfelt tributes like the moving speech delivered by one of Justice O'Connor's former clerks turned reverend, Jane Fahey. Reverend Fahey painted an intimate picture of O'Connor's nurturing spirit. She fondly remembers her devotion towards her clerks as well as their offspring, who O'Connor lovingly termed as her 'grand-clerks'.
Justice Sotomayor, another illustrious woman on the court and O'Connor's contemporary, added depth to O'Connor's personality sketch with her succinct yet emotive words. She shared how O'Connor was the proverbial adhesive that held the justices together. In a bid to nurture collegiality, she insisted on shared afternoon repast post oral arguments and her camaraderie extended to communal enjoyment at barbecues and film screenings. Showing a relatable side of the late Justice, Sotomayor mentioned how O'Connor occasionally enjoyed a glass of scotch.
In her eulogy, Justice Sotomayor waxed eloquent about Justice O'Connor's heightened understanding of the American people and the court's role. She accredited the nation's well-being to the astute intellect and steady hand of O'Connor, who never lost sight of the law's impact on the commonplace populace. Justice Sotomayor's heartfelt tribute testified to O'Connor's transformative role, not only in the court but in the country as well.
Justice O'Connor's significance wasn't restricted to her groundbreaking career but permeated the personal lives of her colleagues. Her venerable age and prolonged illness had relegated her from the public eye for many years, yet her absence was palpably felt by those who had listened to Justice Sotomayor and Reverend Fahey. Devoid of doubt, O'Connor's pioneering spirit and exemplary career trail-blazed a path for the justices and the nation alike, effectively revolutionizing their interaction with each other and the law at large.
