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Sandra Day O'Connor: How the First Woman on the Supreme Court Became Its Most Influential Justice

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One measure of a solid judicial biography is how complete a picture it fills out of the justice as a person. By this, and other measures, Joan Biskupic has contributed an important study of the Justice just at the point when it is most helpful--her perhaps extended "retirement" from the Court. Biskupic is the former Supreme Court reporter for the Washington Post and, more recently, USA Today. Her long time vantage point observing the Court extends at least back to the early 1990's, and this rich perspective strengthens the book.

The initial four chapters sketch out in appropriate detail O'Connor's personal and professional history. Biskupic particularly well interweaves personal developments with O'Connor's deep involvement in Republican politics (close ties to Goldwater; co-state chair for Nixon in 1972), service in the Arizona legislature, and her period as a Superior Court and appellate judge in the state system. Also, her early and close personal ties with William Rehnquist during this pre-Court Arizona period are well discussed. Strange as it may seem, her legislative record suggested sympathy for abortion rights, and this would cause her later problems during her confirmation, even though she lost interest in passing the ERA. These initial chapters give the reader a pretty solid grasp on O'Connor as a person, her values and ambitions, her competitive nature, and political skills (such as cultivating a friendship with Warren Burger) during this period.

The next several chapters are of particular interest given recent developments at the Court. The confirmation process was smooth, except for allegations by an Arizona national abortion opponent (and neighbor of O'Connor) that she was in favor of abortion. This occurred even though, according to Bikupic, O'Connor had told President Reagan she was "personally against abortion." A chapter also is devoted to her transition to the Court and the development of some of her early positions: tough on criminal justice issues and habeas corpus availablity; pro-state authority and opposed to federal intervention; pro-death penalty. Biskupic is particularly effective in articulating the Justice's positions on various issues, without invoking a large number of cases which could bury the reader. O'Connor's policy positions and approach stand out with clarity as a result.

I found the most interesting section of the book focused on what might be termed the "O'Connor techniques." This relates to how she was able to perhaps out-Brennan Justice Brennan in exerting persuasive influence on her colleagues, especially as more GOP-nominated justices joined the Court. But the author's account of how O'Connor would draft opinions to pick up additional votes is extremely valuable. In short, this technique involved incremental "straddling" of different positions, abstaining from crafting broad constitutional rules without the potential for future doctrinal evolution, never deciding more than needed to be decided. For example, accepting some state limitations on abortion, but avoiding having to pass (until the Webster decision) on the continuing constitutionality of Roe. Her maneuverings on the church/state issue is another example that is discussed. This is the kind of "meaty" analysis one hopes to find in a judicial biography--and it is here in abundance.

Biskupic favors the argument that the Justice shifted to a more moderate position during her final terms. Only to some extent I agree, but Biskupic makes her case in an effective fashion. The chapter on Bush v. Gore is very straightforward and dispassionate--unusual given the reams of paper devoted by commentators to examining this controversial decision. The author was also able to include a final section on the death of the Chief Justice and how O'Connor, the perpetual survivor, continues to move forward. The research is impressive; many interviews are drawn upon. The narrative though over 300 pages moves along quite smoothly for the most part. Certainly, a rewarding read for anyone interested in the Court during this current period of its transition.

With the current focus on President's Bush's efforts to "pack" the Supreme Court with ideological conservatives, Ms. Biskupic's book is even more timely and important. "Sandra Day O'Connor-How the First Woman on the S. Ct. Became Its Most Influential Justice", is an excellent and insightful biography of a key figure on the Court today. Writing with a journalist's eye and a lawyer's anaylsis, Ms. Biskupic manages to distill complex legal cases into comprehensible events. This is no small feat and it makes the O'Connor biography accessible to everyone interested in the vital issues we confront today (abortion, affirmative action, sexual discrimination, death penalty etc).
This biography provides an insider's pespective on how justices are chosen, vetted, and confirmed within the political process. We learn insights about Justice O'Connor's friendship with the late Chief Justice Rehnquist and her lobbying efforts on his behalf when he was first nominated to the bench. We see the deftness with which Justice O'Connor handled her own successsful confirmation process. Yet the most exiciting part of Ms. Biskupic's book is Justice O'Connor's rise to becoming one of the most influential members of the Court; it reads almost like a great novel (notwithstanding the 1000 scholarly and informative footnotes) with pace, excitement and surprise.
The books underscores the point that Justices can be shaped by the Coourt as well as shape its case law.
"Sandra Day O'Connor" is a must read for anyone interested in the last quarter century of American and Supreme Court history.

Joan Biskupic's biography _Sandra Day O'Connor: How the First Woman on the Supreme Court Became Its Most Influential Justice_ provides a compelling picture of the first woman Supreme Court justice and of the inner workings of the Supreme Court through four presidential administrations. Biskupic combines assiduous research with a writing style that makes the intricacies of Supreme Court proceedings accessible and fascinating. The biography is impressive on many counts, especially in how it captures O'Connor's skilfull handling of the challenges of being the nation's first female Supreme Court Justice. Throughout, Biskupic's stance is balanced, outlining the strengths of O'Connor's jurisprudence while acknowleding O'Connor's critics.

While the main focus of the biography is on O'Connor's work in the Supreme Court, the early chapters offer a snapshot of O'Connor as a driven career woman, a devoted wife and mother, and an adroit politician. Biskupic shows how O'Connor's life on the family's "Lazy B." farm in Arizona was a formative influence, even though her parents consciously separated her from the farm in order to give her more educational opportunities at a private school in in El Paso. Her father's independence and opposition to the expansion of federal powers in Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal, and O'Connor's experiences as a trial lawyer, an Arizona state senator, and a judge on the Arizona Court of Appeals shaped an approach to law based on pragmatic, narrow definitions as opposed to overarching theoretical positions in rulings. As Biskupic shows, O'Connor's Arizonan, Western roots are manifest in her respect for the Tenth Amendment, which gives to states those powers not directly assigned to the federal government.

Biskupic is sensitive in tracing O'Connor's role as a trailblazer (though, often, in a purposefully understated way), and the biography shows how attitudes toward women have evolved from the 1950s to the present. O'Connor, for instance, despite graduating in the top 10% at Stanford University's Law school in 1952 and having been a member of the Stanford Law Review, received no offers at firms. One prestigious firm, Gibson, Dunn offered her a legal secretary position, which she declined. In an irony reflective of social changes, when Fred Smith, Ronald Reagan's White House Counsel and a former lawyer with Gibson, Dunn, and Grutcher, interviewed O'Connor in 1981 for the Supreme Court vacancy, O'Connor asked him if it was an interview for "a secretarial position." Biskupic begins her book with this effective anecdote, and the biography throughout reveals how O'Connor astutely negotiated gender prejudice in public life.

Biskupic also offers a detailed picture of O'Connor's important votes related to Roe v. Wade, affirmative action, capital punishment, and Bush v. Gore as she became increasingly the fifth tie-breaking in a deadlocked court. Biskupic chronicles O'Connor's evolution as a jurist, arguing that her role as a centrist often made her a baramoter of where the nation as a whole stood. Biskupic points out that O'Connor's legislative background as an Arizona State Senator--as a person who ran for office and thus who was directly accountable to the electorate--gave her a unique perspective in the Supreme Court with its life-time appointees.

Chapter 15, "Scalia v. O'Connor," highlights O'Connor's judicial pragmatism and minimalist interpretations, offering a contrast with Scalia's philosophically driven understanding of law on originalist grounds. In this chapter, Biskupic addresses critiques of O'Connor's decisions and legal reasoning from both the right and left. This chapter is fair in its discussion and highly informative about different approaches to law and about the role of the Supreme Court, in general.

An anecdote at the end of the book reveals O'Connor's personal style. In an interview with Biskupic, Clarence Thomas recalled O'Connor's congeniality and even the subtle impact this had on the court . O'Connor had attempted for a number of years to convince the other justices to eat lunch together after listening to cases. Although Thomas and other justices initially resisted, prefering to work on cases, he and others later relented. Thomas remarks, "Now, you have a group of people who really enjoy other's company." Biskupic argues that such tact helped lead to O'Connor's ascendant role in the court.

Biskupic's biography chronicles O'Connor's own life and provides a view of the day-to-day dynamics of the Supreme Court, including shifts in the court with retirements and the investitures of new justices. The biography, while telling many important stories affecting American law and life, maintains a clear argument of O'Connor's unmistakable influence.

This is a most engaging portrait of a model justice in the common law tradition. Justice O'Connor is a true American icon of humble and hardworking origins rising to the heights of leadership based on character, critical thinking and an ethic of service. Her good will and civility toward those with whom she disagreed is an example to follow. The narrative is well informed, nuanced and flows steadily in a current that merges national, judicial and personal events in the judge's life most artfully. A wonderful book about a wonderful lady and an excellent Supreme Court justice. It is the likes of Sandra Day O'Connor that make one proud to be an American. And though I've never (yet) voted Republican she is also one more beautiful reason to love Ronald Reagan.

This is the book I want my daughter to read as she finishes high school and considers the world of ahead. The story of Sandra Day O'Connor's life is the story of our country and the news events that have shaped our national policy from abortion rights to 911 and to the election of our president. Joan Biskupic is a skilled reporter, who makes you wonder "how did she get that information." O'Connor is presented as a deal-maker, centrist and yet in her own right she was her own woman sponsoring yoga classes in the all male bastion of the Supreme Court gym "the hightest court in the land."

Although it isn't structured that way, this book really seems to have three major components:

First this book provides an insight into how the third core of our Government functions. It's a story of people, none of them are stupid, but like all people they have moments when they are smarter than at some times. It is also a story of how the other two, more political arms of the Government tend to force the courts to 'make law' so that they can then complain that the courts are 'making law.' The Terry Schivo is a classic example. Thrown to the Congress, who didn't want such a political hot potato, they could then complain about the decision.

Second, this is a story of how a nominally arch conservative person, gets to the court and moves distinctly towards the center. In the current debate over replacement justices. The far left, and the far right are screaming a lot. It's a comfort to know that the middle is probably pretty safe.

Third, this is a good biography of an extremely competent lady who came a long way from a remote ranch in Arizona. It clearly makes her out as a woman who served herself, her family, and our country very well.

Ms. Biskupic, a lawyer herself, has done a supurb job.

The most amazing thing about Sandra Day O'Connor is that she has good sense, and uses it. She is a centrist, a pragmatic realist, and her opinions are not based on ideology. She had a fascinating life, and through her good sense, moderation and perseverance she created a unique place in American history. This book gives a wonderful picture of the Supreme Court and how it works, as well as a look at the personalities of the Justices. It is well written and enjoyable to read.

Joan Biskupic's biography on Sandra Day O'Connor is one of the best biographies I have read. She discusses Justice O'Connor's life from before she became a Supreme Court Justice to when she announced her retirement. Not only did Ms. Biskupic discuss how the court changed in the early 1980's with the addition of the nation's first woman Supreme Court Justice, but she discussed how this effected the other justices as well. Moreover, the reader who may just be wanting to learn about Justice O'Connor learns about all of the Supreme Court Justices that she served with during her tenure. It is an easy read and would be a great book for high school and college students, who were not born yet when Sandra Day O'Connor first joined the Supreme Court and gave them an idea what she had to contend with to get her job and also what life was like during the 80's, 90's and early 21st century. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the life of Sandra Day O'Connor. She is truly a very interesting woman and a role model for young women today.

No author to date has fine-tuned the story of O'Connor from ranch to robes as well as Ms. Biskupic. The extent of her study and interviews shows, but does not become an academic report. It is fresh and insightful, and certainly as amusing and straight-shooting as its subject.

If you are interested in the law, the Supremes, history in the making, or simply the politics of what it means to be a woman in the law, this is the book you want to read.

As an admirer of SDO for quite some time, this book opened me up to admire her even more. This book told me so many things that I never knew. It also explained her reasoning behind many of her decisions, both as a justice and in life. Worth the read.