All four current and former female Supreme Court Justices celebrated the 30th Anniversary of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's first term on the Court.
Sandra Day O'Connor told the audience at the event hosted by the Supreme Court Historical Society, about meeting the President prior to her nomination, and about the secrecy involved in the nomination process. The other women spoke about what the nomination meant to them and how Justice O'Connor's confirmation affected their career trajectories.
Sandra Day O'Connor became the first female Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court on September 21, 1981, two months after her nomination by President Ronald Reagan. Justice O'Connor served on the Supreme Court for twenty-four years and retired on January 31, 2006, to spend more time with her ailing husband.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who joined the court in 1993, was nominated by President Bill Clinton. Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan are the newest justices, nominated by President Barack Obama.