Back in 2002, at the beginning of their legal careers, Allyson Ho of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in Dallas and Justin Nelson of Susman Godfrey in Houston, spent a year clerking for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
The Houston natives were among the justice’s four clerks that term, and the trailblazer left a lasting impact on each of them beginning with their first meetings, they recalled in recent interviews with The Lawbook.
“It was an incredible experience to sit across a table from such a legend in American law and life that if that had been the only thing to have come out of that meeting, the opportunity to meet her, that itself would have an incredible gift,” Ho said.
The interview process felt more like a personality test, Nelson said.
“She wanted to see whether she would get along with you and whether she liked you or not,” he recalled. “You’re meeting not just a Supreme Court justice; you’re meeting with this historic figure. So, I went into it with the idea that if nothing else, I’d have a great conversation with her for a few minutes and whatever else came would come.”
Today, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor will lie in repose in the Great Hall of the Supreme Court. The first woman appointed to the nation’s high court, who served as an associate justice from 1981 until 2006, died Dec. 1 of complications related to dementia and a respiratory illness.
She was 93.
Thoughtfulness and kindness were hallmarks of how she lived her life, and those traits left a lasting imprint on those who knew her.
She baked Nelson an apple pie for his 29th birthday.
She took the time to visit with the families of Ho and Nelson when they visited Washington, D.C.
She regularly ate lunch with her clerks and had an annual tradition of taking them on a picnic during cherry blossom season.
She hosted a wedding celebration for newly-married Ho and her husband, Jim, at her own home and did all the cooking herself.
But there were also moments when her clerks felt some nervousness around the justice.
During a particularly hot and dry summer when she was traveling and speaking at conferences outside of the nation’s capital, Nelson was housesitting for her when he had to deliver some bad news.
“The lawn was starting to die. It was getting brown,” he said. “So, the most nervous I’ve ever been with Justice O’Connor was having to tell her [that] her lawn was browning under my watch. That was not the best conversation to have. But in typical Justice O’Connor style, she was gracious and kind.”
And there was the time Ho — who said getting an up-close look at the justice’s marriage to John Jay O’Connor and the love they shared was an “inspiration and an example” to her — wanted to make sure Justice O’Connor approved of her new fiancé.
Ho’s parents made the trip to D.C. soon after she became engaged to visit and watch oral arguments at the court.
“My parents and I were with the justice in her chambers and my engagement came up, and my parents shared that it was very meaningful to them that Jim flew down to Houston, where they lived at the time, and asked for my hand in marriage. And the justice said ‘That’s fine, but nobody talked to me about that,’” Ho said. “So, I got back to my desk and I called Jim and I said, ‘I think the justice was kidding but I also think you should probably come by chambers soon.’”
The relationships she forged with young lawyers at the court were not limited to her clerks. She found out that a clerk for Justice John Paul Stephens and retired Justice Byron White was an accomplished violinist who had played in the Duke University Symphony Orchestra.
That clerk, current Texas Supreme Court Justice Brett Busby, told The Lawbook that soon thereafter Justice O’Connor introduced him to a friend of hers who was visiting from Arizona — a doctor who had brought along two rare, valuable violins he owned, a Stradivarius and a Guarneri.
“He brought them because Justice O’Connor was putting on a musical birthday party for Mr. O’Connor,” Justice Busby said. “People came from around the country to perform, and this is the first I was hearing of any of this, and it would be held at the court the next evening.”
She invited him to play at the dress rehearsal.
The problem?
He hadn’t played in about four years.
“But I wasn’t going to tell Justice O’Connor no,” he said, explaining that with only hours to knock off the rust, he spent the whole evening practicing.
“I got to court the next morning and they were in a beautiful conference room they have there … and I’m taking out my violin to get ready and as I’m doing so [the doctor] says ‘Oh no, play my violins.’ So, I got to play a Stradivarius and a Guarneri. It certainly was nothing that I ever thought I would have the opportunity to play.”
The experience inspired Justice Busby to start playing again, and when he moved back to Houston to start his law practice he joined a community orchestra where he played for the next 20 years.
“I’m grateful to Justice O’Connor for giving me the opportunity and inspiring me to get back to playing,” he said. “I’m certainly thankful for having the opportunity to get to know her.”
Her life and career inspired many, and below The Lawbook shares thoughts and remembrances from some of those she impacted:
“Justice O’Connor was a fiercely independent thinker and a trailblazer who opened doors for women across the country. We will miss her voice and her spirit, but her legacy endures.”
— Jane Robinson, appellate practice head at Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Mensing
“Reagan’s appointment of Justice O’Connor provided a generation of young women with a valuable role model, including myself. As a young girl growing up in Texas with early aspirations of being a lawyer, her rancher spirit, career achievements, and dedication to family were inspirational.”
— LeElle Slifer, partner at Winston & Strawn
“I met Justice O’Connor when she was [honored as an] Outstanding Ex at my high school in the Fall of 1980, months away from becoming the first female U.S. Supreme Court Justice. At the assembly where she was recognized, she led the student body in a cheer. I learned a valuable lesson from her at a young age: You can be brilliant and successful and still be fun and kind.”
— Hilda Galvan, partner-in-charge (Dallas), Jones Day
Executive Committee Member, Center for Women in Law
“The thought of a woman on the U.S. Supreme Court seemed distant, almost unfathomable, before President Ronald Reagan’s nomination of Sandra Day O’Connor to our nation’s highest court. Justice O’Connor defied the odds and broke barriers, opening the door to appointing more women to the U.S. Supreme Court and inspiring girls like me to pursue careers in law.”
— Veronica Vargas Stidvent, Executive Director, Center for Women in Law
“Upon learning of her passing, the pivotal role Justice O’Connor played on the Court immediately came to mind. Like the Center for Women in Law, Justice O’Connor did her part to ensure that the legal profession exemplifies equity and justice for all. Although she never wore the feminist moniker publicly, her written opinions reflect a deep commitment to ensuring fairness and equity in American society. Justice O’Connor was not just the key vote, but she also authored several landmark decisions which undoubtedly helped other women lawyers succeed in the legal profession.”
— Cisselon Nichols Hurd, senior legal counsel for Shell Oil
Executive Committee President, Center for Women in Law
“I knew Justice O’Connor but not well. She was always very kind and interested in me when I saw her. She was also my model of what a judge should be — on and off the bench. We have lost a great woman whose service in the judiciary was extraordinary.”
— Retired Texas Supreme Court Justice Deborah Hankinson of Hankinson PLLC
“I was in middle school when President Reagan nominated Justice O’Connor to the Supreme Court. It got particular attention in my orbit because she was born in my hometown of El Paso. I’ll admit it seemed more strange, at least as a kid, than celebratory at first. That’s how far we needed to come as a society. But what she did, and who she was, for our generation was monumental. And she served with wisdom, integrity, and humility, demonstrating for future generations of lawyers the highest level of what we can all aspire to.”
— Monica Latin, managing partner of Carrington Coleman
“I was a teenager when she broke one the highest glass ceilings in this country, and became the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court. Her groundbreaking achievement inspired me — as it did so many young women across our nation. May her memory be a reminder that, through resilience and dedication, no barrier is insurmountable.”
— Yvette Ostolaza, management committee chair at Sidley
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Current and former members of the Supreme Court have also shared their thoughts, honoring Justice O’Connor’s life and career.
“A daughter of the American Southwest, Sandra Day O’Connor blazed an historic trail as our Nation’s first female Justice. She met that challenge with undaunted determination, indisputable ability, and engaging candor. We at the Supreme Court mourn the loss of a beloved colleague, a fiercely independent defender of the rule of law, and an eloquent advocate for civics education. And we celebrate her enduring legacy as a true public servant and patriot.”
— Chief Justice John Roberts
“Virginia and I are deeply, deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our dear friend, Sandra Day O’Connor. From our very first days at the Court in 1991 and throughout the past three decades, she has been the embodiment of kindness, warmth, grace, and intelligence. It was truly a profound honor to have been her colleague. And, we are deeply grateful to have known her and John, for whom we also had the greatest affection. We will keep her family in our thoughts and prayers.”
— Justice Clarence Thomas
“Martha-Ann and I are deeply saddened by the news that Justice O’Connor has passed away. Her appointment was a pivotal event in the history of the Supreme Court and the nation, and I will never forget the electric atmosphere in the Court at her investiture in September of 1981 when I was beginning my time in the Solicitor General’s office. During her long service, she met the challenges of her pioneering role with great acumen, aplomb, dignity, and a collegial spirit. She was an inspiration for many. Both because of her unique role and her many significant opinions, she will always be remembered as one of the most important justices in the history of our institution. I enjoyed the times when we were able to spend time together during her retirement and only wish that there had been more such occasions.”
— Justice Samuel A. Alito
“I mourn the passing of another American hero. When Sandra Day O’Connor, the ‘cowgirl from out west,’ became the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court, she changed the world and made history. Indeed, her entire life was pathbreaking. She served in all three branches of government, was a brilliant champion of women’s rights, and promoted civic education in a way that transformed how children learn about our shared responsibility as citizens.
“Sandra was a warm and caring colleague, always practical but also an unyielding visionary about the role of the Court in our society. I extend my condolences to her children Scott, Brian, and Jay, and their families. Sandra devoted her life to her family and the country. I am truly grateful, but also deeply sad that we lost the guiding light of an outstanding trailblazer and an even better friend. I will miss her.”
— Justice Sonia Sotomayor
“I remember the day Justice O’Connor was nominated to the Court as though it just happened. As a young woman looking forward to law school, I thought the event momentous and inspirational. But I couldn’t have known then how momentous and inspirational that new nominee’s tenure on the Court would turn out to be. Justice O’Connor of course became a hugely influential figure — often the single person who decided the Court’s most important cases. What is striking to me now is how she used her influence — with extraordinary understanding of this Nation and its people; with appreciation of this Court’s necessary role, but also of its necessary limits; and with a will to promote balance and mutual respect in this too-often divided country. Justice O’Connor never stopped thinking and listening, learning and growing. She judged with wisdom. And her service left both this Court and this Nation better. It is impossible to have a greater legacy.”
— Justice Elena Kagan
“Louise and I join the Nation in mourning the loss of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. From her earliest days in the legal profession to the halls of this Court, she blazed a remarkable trail of firsts. Through it all she never wavered from her core values: courage, civility, love of this country and its Constitution, and an independent spirit born of the West. I cherish the time I was able to spend with and learning from her–from the days I spent clerking for her friend Byron White 30 years ago, to the days we spent in Phoenix together as judges decades later poring over revisions to the federal rules of procedure. Her work promoting civics education and civility while on the bench and after her retirement were visionary. As she put it, “We must arm today’s young people with innovative civic education that is relevant to them. Bringing high-quality civics to every school in every state of our union is the only way that the next generations will become effective citizens and leaders.” Today, the group she founded, iCivics, does just that, reaching millions of students in all 50 States. Her legacy of service to the Nation is profound, her example a model, her memory a blessing.”
— Justice Neil Gorsuch
“Ashley, Margaret, Liza, and I are profoundly saddened by the passing of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. We extend our deepest condolences to her wonderful sons, grandchildren, and brother, as well as to her extraordinary law clerk family, whom she dearly loved. As President Reagan forecast when nominating her, Justice O’Connor left her footprints on the sands of time. She made equal justice under law a reality, blazing trails and opening doors for the millions of American women and girls who have followed her lead. As the first woman on the Supreme Court, she worked and lived under enormous scrutiny, which she handled with unparalleled grace and grit as she thrived on and off the Court. Justice O’Connor will always be revered by Americans not only because she was the first woman on the Supreme Court but also because she was a spectacular judge and person — a model of dignity and civility who was principled and commonsensical, wise and funny, forceful and kind. A woman for all seasons, Justice O’Connor was all class, all the time. I thank God for Justice O’Connor because she, as much as any judge in the history of this country, helped make America a more perfect Union. May God always bless Sandra Day O’Connor.”
— Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh
“I was nine years old when Justice O’Connor was appointed to the Supreme Court. I remember being awestruck by her example of what was possible: She had a job previously unattainable by women, and a family besides. My admiration grew when, as an adult, I began to appreciate what it took to occupy her place in history. Being the first woman on the Supreme Court was about so much more than being the first to sit on the bench. Justice O’Connor had to decide whether to mimic the men or do it her own way. She chose the latter, in everything from the lace jabot she wore with her robe to the aerobics classes she held at the Court. It took remarkable self-confidence and independence to be her own brand of Supreme Court justice, feminine touches included, with all the world watching. Because of her sharp mind, she became a pivotal justice who has left her mark on American constitutional law. Because of her indomitable spirit, she made the job uniquely hers. Sandra Day O’Connor was the perfect trailblazer. I am grateful not only for the doors she opened, but for the style with which she walked through them.”
— Justice Amy Coney Barrett
“I had the honor of observing Justice O’Connor at work during my service as a law clerk for Justice Breyer. Full of grace and grit, she was a marvel to watch and learn from during oral argument. In addition, as the first female Justice, Justice O’Connor helped pave the road on which other jurists, including me, now walk. Her story has inspired generations of lawyers and generations of Americans, and her commitment to justice and to the rule of law continues to serve as a model to us all. I was saddened to learn of her passing, and I send my deepest condolences to her family.”
— Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
“From the moment I became a member of the Supreme Court, Justice O’Connor blessed me with personal kindness. Within an hour (literally) of the Senate vote confirming my nomination, she somehow found me at the New Hampshire law office of a friend, and over the telephone she welcomed me to the Court and made me feel welcome. While kindness like that never had a role in deciding cases, I knew it was there for me personally as Sandra’s friend.”
— Ret. Justice David H. Souter
“Sandra Day O’Connor had a personal and professional stature that inspired all who knew her, in person or by reputation. She reached out to us soon after our arrival in Washington and we became the closest of friends. She was the first in so many admirable respects, and was admired in this nation and by those beyond the seas who learned from her and her career what freedom can mean to all of us. We will treasure her always.”
— Ret. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy
“We have missed, and we will continue to miss, Sandra Day O’Connor. She was the first woman Justice, she was a great judge, and she was a kind, thoughtful, cheerful, generous human being. As a judge, she was careful and practical. She considered every legal question with intelligence. She was concerned about the welfare of those whom the Court’s decisions could affect. Her decisions were sound.
“Sandra was a patriot. She was concerned about America. And, to her, a job at the Supreme Court meant that she could make good use of her wisdom and intelligence.
“As a colleague, Sandra always was interested in what others thought about law or other topics. And she was fun. The lunch room would light up when she walked in. So would rooms in other nations when she would help organize meetings with judges from around the world. She was an enthusiast. She expanded our horizons. She was a natural leader.
“Hers was a life well-lived. Yes, her marvelous family will miss her; her former colleagues will miss her; her friends will miss her; and America will miss her — my dear friend, Sandra O’Connor.”
— Ret. Justice Stephen G. Breyer