Justice Sandra Day O'Connor Resigns

Just imagine my surprise. I woke up less than an hour ago, my hair still wet from the shower, still in PJ's... the Washington Post hits me with this:

Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman Supreme Court justice and a decisive swing vote for a quarter-century on virtually all the major legal issues of our time, announced her resignation today.

Because she is a moderate, her departure gives President Bush a major opportunity to alter the direction of the court if he so chooses.

This can NOT be...

Outside advisers believe the front-runners are U.S. Court of Appeals Judges J. Michael Luttig of the 4th Circuit and John G. Roberts of the D.C. Circuit, both considered strong conservatives. Bush might also prevail upon his reluctant friend, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, who would be the first Hispanic justice but is seen by some conservatives as unreliable on issues such as abortion and affirmative action.

Wow. A Supreme Court Justice Alberto Gonzales would be the biggest irony in American history since Fox News.

O'Connor's unique status as the first female on the court, combined with a gregarious public presence unusual for the government's most monastic branch, made her unquestionably the best-known justice in modern times, greeted by strangers in airports and on the streets and always named on pollsters' lists of America's most powerful and most respected women...

She put her stamp on each of these fields [abortion, affirmative action, church-state relations and criminal justice], not by adopting an agenda, but by avoiding one. With colleagues often locked into predictable conservative or liberal position, this made her a consistent "swing" vote, a strategic role she deployed to moderate the extremes, in case after controversial case.

In effect, she stood politely but firmly in the way of the conservative strategy for the court that was so dear to the followers of the President who appointed her in 1981, Ronald Reagan.

She has been a prominent presence in the court. And she will be dearly missed.

This is her resignation letter to President George Walker Bush (he's probably faintly nostalgic for that time after his re-election when everyone was submitting letters of resignation):

Dear President Bush:

This is to inform you of my decision to retire from my position as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States effective upon the nomination and confirmation of my successor. It has been a great privilege, indeed, to have served as a member of the court for 24 terms. I will leave it with enormous respect for the integrity of the court and its role under our constitutional structure.

Sincerely,

Sandra Day O'Connor

She really made her indelible mark on history when, in 1981, she was appointed and confirmed to the Supreme Court by President Reagan and the U.S. Senate, respectively.

Check out the NYTimes announcement in 1981.

Check out Dubya's remarks:

Good morning.

A short time ago I had a warm conversation with Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who has decided to retire from the Supreme Court of the United States.

America is proud of Justice O'Connor's distinguished service, and I'm proud to know her.

Today, she has the gratitude of her fellow citizens, and she and John and their family have our respect and good wishes.

Sandra Day O'Connor joined the nation's highest court in 1981 as the first woman ever appointed to that position. Throughout her tenure, she has been a discerning and conscientious judge, and a public servant of complete integrity.

Justice O'Connor's great intellect, wisdom and personal decency have won her the esteem of her colleagues and our country.

Under the Constitution, I am responsible for nominating a successor to Justice O'Connor.

I take this responsibility seriously. I will be deliberate and thorough in this process.

I have directed my staff, in cooperation with the Department of Justice, to compile information and recommend for my review potential nominees who meet a high standard of legal ability, judgment and integrity, and who will faithfully interpret the Constitution and laws of our country.

As well, I will continue to consult, as will my advisers, with members of the United States Senate.

The nation deserves and I will select a Supreme Court justice that Americans can be proud of.

The nation also deserves a dignified process of confirmation in the United States Senate, characterized by fair treatment, a fair hearing and a fair vote.

I will choose the nominee in a timely manner so that the hearing and the vote can be completed before the new Supreme Court term begins.

Today, however, is a day to honor the contributions of a fine citizen and a great patriot.

Many years ago, Sandra Day O'Connor choose the path of public service. And she served with distinction as a legislator and a judge in Arizona before joining the Supreme Court.

When President Ronald Reagan appointed Justice O'Connor 24 years ago, Americans had high expectations of her. And she has surpassed those expectations in the performance of her duties.

This great lady, born in El Paso, Texas, rose above the obstacles of an earlier time and became one of the most admired Americans of our time.

She leaves an outstanding record of service to the United States, and our nation is deeply grateful.

Thank you.

As laughable as some parts of that address are (like his promise to be thoughtful in his nomination), the tribute to her legacy is true.

Thus, I'm not going to discuss the possible successors (except previous snark at Gonzales). I'll wait till later today, out of respect of Justice O'Connor.

Why not Rehnquist?