I tried to decide each case based on the law and the Constitution.
SANDRA DAY O'CONNORIf I stumbled badly in doing the job, I think it would have made life more difficult for women, and that was a great concern of mine and still is.
More Sandra Day O'Connor Quotes
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It matters enormously to a successful democratic society like ours that we have three branches of government, each with some independence and some control over the other two. Thats set out in the Constitution.
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(W)e do not count heads before enforcing the First Amendment.
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I have always thought that while it’s wonderful to be the first to do something, you don’t want to be the last.
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[G]overnment endorsement . . . of religion . . . sends a message to nonadherents that they are outsiders, not full members of the political community, and an accompanying message to adherents that they are insiders, favored members of the political community.
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If a State refused to let religious groups use facilities open to others, then it would demonstrate not neutrality but hostility toward religion.
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I don’t think it’s the court’s perceived role to do some explaining of a political nature.
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I do not believe it is the function of the judiciary to step in and change the law because the times have changed. I do well understand the difference between legislating and judging. As a judge, it is not my function to develop public policy.
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My hope is that 10 years from now, after I’ve been across the street at work for a while, they’ll all be glad they gave me that wonderful vote.
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It is true that as you have children, there are a good many months when you don’t want to be working full-time. I agree that that’s an issue.
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We have a complex system of government. You have to teach it to every generation.
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The freedom to criticize judges and other public officials is necessary to a vibrant democracy. The problem comes when healthy criticism is replaced with more destructive intimidation and sanctions.
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I think most people didn’t want to do court duty.
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Despite the encouraging and wonderful gains and the changes for women which have occurred in my lifetime, there is still room to advance and to promote correction of the remaining deficiencies and imbalances.
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Liberty finds no refuge in a jurisprudence of doubt.
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How dare you make my life a felony.
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