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Sandra Day O'Connor

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Sandra Day O'Connor is a retired attorney, politician, and the first woman Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, a position she held from 1981 until her retirement in 2006. She was the first woman nominated and confirmed. Nominated by President Ronald Reagan, she was considered the swing vote for the Rehnquist Court and the beginning of the Roberts Court.



Prior to O'Connor's tenure on the Court, she was a judge and an elected official in Arizona, serving as the first female majority leader of a state senate as the Republican leader in the Arizona Senate. Upon her nomination to the Court, O'Connor was confirmed unanimously by the Senate. On July 1, 2005, she announced her intention to retire effective upon the confirmation of a successor. Samuel Alito was nominated to take her seat in October 2005 and joined the Court on January 31, 2006.

As a moderate Republican, O'Connor tended to approach each case narrowly without seeking to establish sweeping precedents. She most frequently sided with the Court's conservative bloc. She often wrote concurring opinions that limited the reach of the majority holding. Her majority opinions in landmark cases include Grutter v. Bollinger and Hamdi v. Rumsfeld. She also wrote in part the per curiam majority opinion in Bush v. Gore, and was one of three co-authors of the lead opinion in Planned Parenthood v. Casey.

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WASHINGTON WOMEN Has its New York Premiere Performance at Lehman College


Essential Voices USA, Judith Clurman, Music Director and Conductor, announce the New York Premiere performance of Washington Women during International Women’s Month - March 29, 2023 at 1PM -  at the Lovinger Theater at Lehman College, Bronx, New York.

Video: Get a First Listen to Karen Murphy Singing 'The Mind Goes' From JUSTICE: A NEW MUSICAL


Get a First Listen to Karen Murphy (Sandra Day O’Connor) singing “The Mind Goes” from Justice: A New Musical at Marin Theatre Company!

Review: JUSTICE: A NEW MUSICAL at Marin Theatre Company


What did our critic think of JUSTICE: A NEW MUSICAL at Marin Theatre Company?

Photos: First Look at JUSTICE: A NEW MUSICAL at Marin Theatre Company


Get a first look at photos of Justice: A New Musical—the groundbreaking musical at Marin Theatre Company!

BWW Review: JUSTICE at Herberger Theater Center


I was curious to see how Lauren Gunderson (book), Bree Lowdermilk (music) and Kait Kerrigan (lyrics) could make a musical about former Supreme Court judges Sandra Day O'Connor and the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg. And how does local performer Chanel Bragg figure into this Arizona Theatre Company world premiere?

Remote Theater And The Marsh Stage THE CHOICE in July


Remote Theater, the award-winning 'live cinema' company born during the pandemic, announced today the July 2022 production of 'The Choice,' a multi-playwright reflection on Roe v. Wade. Styled after Remote/Marsh's much-lauded January production, Insurrection - examining the events of January 6, 2021 - The Choice seeks to bring greater understanding to ongoing conflicts in American civic life by dramatizing different stories in different voices working with some of the nation's greatest playwrights and actors.

Nancy Opel to Star in World Premiere of Lauren Gunderson's JUSTICE


Arizona Theatre Company's latest production captures an intimate snapshot of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O'Connor at the height of their power in an exciting world premiere.

Jazz at Lincoln Center Announces 'Songs We Love' Tour


Combining their distinct talents, the group will sing their way through four decades of music, beginning with the early blues and jazz of the 1920s and ending in the early 1950s. Iconic singers to be explored include Ma Rainey, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland. Check out the full list of tour dates now!

Wallis Artistic Director Paul Crewes To Step Down, Transition To Artistic Advisor


Pioneering arts leader Paul Crewes, who has served since 2015 as the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts' first Artistic Director, steps down from his position at the end of this year and transitions to a new role as Artistic Advisor for the balance of The Wallis' 2021-2022 Season, it was announced by Michael Nemeroff, Chairman of the Board.

Single Tickets On Sale Tomorrow for Arizona Theatre Company's 54th Season


Arizona audiences will be the first to see Justice, a musical written by Lauren Gunderson specifically to premiere at ATC. The epic three-person musical explores the relationship between Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and already, theaters nationwide are lining up to produce it.

Theatre Or and Tattered Explore Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsberg In New Webinar Series


Theatre Or* and Tattered Cover present Honoring Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a free webinar series designed as community outreach in association with the Colorado premiere of the play Sisters In Law by Jonathan Shapiro, produced by Theatre Or in association with Elizabeth Weber, Dale Franzen, and Don Franzen.

SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR: THE FIRST Airs on PBS Monday, September 13


Based on First: Sandra Day O’Connor by Evan Thomas, this biographical portrait recounts the life of a pioneering woman who both reflected and shaped an era.

Theatre Or To Honor Ruth Bader Ginsburg And Sandra Day O'Connor


Theatre Or*, in association with Elizabeth Weber, Dale Franzen and Don Franzen is proud to present the Colorado premiere of Sisters in Law by Jonathan Shapiro, based on the book by Linda Hirshman.

Arizona Theatre Company Announces 54th Season ~ 2021/2022


Arizona Theatre Company is counting down the days to Opening Night. Announces its 54th Season for 2021-2022.

Arizona State University Names New American Film School After Legendary Actor and Filmmaker Sidney Poitier


Arizona State Universitytoday established The Sidney Poitier New American Film School, one of the largest, most egalitarian film schools in the country, operating in three cities across Arizona and California.

Arizona Theatre Company Postpones 54th Season


The surging COVID-19 pandemic combined with restrictions imposed by national theatre unions have prompted Arizona Theatre Company (ATC) to make the difficult decision to again postpone its 54th season until later in 2021. ATC will return to live stage productions only when it is safe to do so.

Arizona Theatre Company Presents Idris Goodwin's THE REALNESS


Arizona Theatre Company's (ATC) digital season continues with Idris Goodwin's break beat play, The Realness, which follows T.O. from the suburbs to the big city to immerse himself in authentic hip hop culture and the journey for his heart and true identity.

Arizona Theatre Company Presents Online Digital Reading of New Work COVENANT


Legend has it that landmark blues guitarist, singer and songwriter Robert Johnson, who played mostly on street corners and juke joints with little commercial success or public recognition in his short life traded his soul to the devil in exchange for his incredible technique that influenced everyone from Muddy Waters to The Rolling Stones.

Keke Palmer Will Host NICK NEWS: KIDS PICK THE PRESIDENT


Nickelodeon is letting kids' voices be heard this election season with the return of its bellwether 'Kids' Vote' poll and a brand-new Nick News: Kids Pick the President special hosted by entertainment powerhouse Keke Palmer.

JUSTICE, a New Musical About Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O'Connor, Will Open in Arizona in 2021


Arizona Theatre Company will present Justice, a new musical about Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O'Connor, in 2021.

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