Sandra Day O'Connor Quotes

The purpose prong of the Lemon test requires that a government activity have a secular purpose. That requirement is not satisfied, however, by the mere existence of some secular purpose, however dominated by religious purposes ... The proper inquiry under the purpose prong of Lemon, I submit, is whether the government intends to convey a message of endorsement or disapproval of religion.

If a State refused to let religious groups use facilities open to others, then it would demonstrate not neutrality but hostility toward religion.

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. That's set out in the Constitution.

Parents should continue to become more involved with their communities, and more involved in their children's education.

The prima facie evidence provision in this case ignores all of the contextual factors that are necessary to decide whether a particular cross burning is intended to intimidate. The First Amendment does not permit such a shortcut.

Suppose you had a cross burning in a play or a movie ... Would that be intimidating?

A moment of silence is not inherently religious.

We expect that 25 years from now, the use of racial preferences will no longer be necessary to further the interest approved today.

I wanted to be a cattle rancher when I was young, because it was what I knew and I loved it.

Cyberspace undeniably reflects some form of geography.

I've always said that at the end of the day, on a legal issue, I think a wise old woman and a wise old man are going to reach the same conclusion.

In order to cultivate a set of leaders with legitimacy in the eyes of the citizenry, it is necessary that the path to leadership be visibly open to talented and qualified individuals of every race and ethnicity.

It was better for me when I was joined at the court by a second woman. When I was there alone, there was too much media focus on the one woman, and the minute we got another woman, that changed.

I suspect that over time we will rely increasingly, or take notice at least increasingly, on international and foreign courts in examining domestic issues. [Doing so] may not only enrich our own country's decisions, I think it may create that all important good impression.

The framers of the Constitution were so clear in the federalist papers and elsewhere that they felt an independent judiciary was critical to the success of the nation.

The really expert riders of horses let the horse know immediately who is in control, but then they guide the horse with loose reins and very seldom use the spurs. So it was with our chief [William Rehnquist]. He guided us with loose reins and used the spurs only rarely to get us up to speed with our work.

I loved my husband very much, and it was heartbreaking to have him develop Alzheimer's disease, and to stand by and watch him decline in his ability to take care of himself.

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.

A state of war is not a blank check for the president when it comes to the rights of the nation's citizens.

I think I learned to appreciate and treasure each day, because you don't know how many you're going to be given.

(W)e do not count heads before enforcing the First Amendment.

If statistics are any indication, the system may well be allowing some innocent defendants to be executed.

If you take a position under the Constitution that is against the majority view, you have to explain it well enough that maybe you can persuade some of that majority to agree with you.

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.

The fact is, we are a nine-member court that sits on cases.

I'm a judge. It seemed to me that it was critical to try to take action to stem the criticism and help people understand that in the constitutional framework, it's terribly important not to have a system of retaliation against decisions people don't like.

As a citizen, you need to know how to be a part of it, how to express yourself - and not just by voting.

My concern was whether I could do the job of a justice well enough to convince the nation that my appointment was the right move.

If parents instill a sense of civic-mindedness - and there is no better way to do that than by example - their children will probably follow.

When I went to law school, which after all was back in the dark ages, we never looked beyond our borders for precedents. As a state court judge, it never would have occurred to me to do so, and when I got to the Supreme Court, it was very much the same. We just didn't do it.

Historically courts in this country have been insulated. We do not look beyond our borders for precedents.

Slaying the dragon of delay is no sport for the short-winded.

Most high courts in other nations do not have discretion, such as we enjoy, in selecting the cases that the high court reviews. Our court is virtually alone in the amount of discretion it has.

It is difficult to discern a serious threat to religious liberty from a room of silent, thoughtful schoolchildren.

It's hard to have little children and a job and career at the same time. There is no time left for you as a woman.

If 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.

The freedom to criticize judges and other public officials is necessary to a vibrant democracy.

Being a member of the court is a lot like walking through fresh concrete. Do you remember doing that as a child and leaving a footprint and it hardens after you? I'm afraid that's what we do and we look back and we see those opinions we've written and they've sort of hardened after us.

[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.

In terms of having the American people look at the court and think of it as being fair and appropriate for our nation, it helps to have women, plural, on the court.

In my work a good library is essential. It enables me to learn the background and previous discussions of the various issues I am called upon to decide. It provides the stability and continuity for the rule of law.

The power I exert on the court depends on the power of the power of my arguments, not my gender

Any property may now be taken for the benefit of another private party, but the fallout from this decision will not be random. The beneficiaries are likely to be those citizens with disproportionate influence and power in the political process, including large corporations and development firms. As for the victims, the government now has license to transfer property from those with fewer resources to those with more. The Founders cannot have intended this perverse result.

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.

We have a complex system of government. You have to teach it to every generation.

This chance will stand before you only once.

I tried to decide each case based on the law and the Constitution.

How dare you make my life a felony.

Yes, I will bring the understanding of a woman to the Court, but I doubt that alone will affect my decisions.

It is the individual who can and does make a difference even in this increasingly populous, complex world of ours. The individual can make things happen. It is the individual who can bring a tear to my eye and then cause me to take pen in hand. It is the individual who has acted or tried to act who will not only force a decision but also have a hand in shaping it. Whether acting in the legal, governmental, or private realm, one concerned and dedicated person can meaningful affect what some consider an uncaring world. So give freely of yourself always to your family, your friends, your community, and your country. The world will pay you back many times over.

Having family responsibilities and concerns just has to make you a more understanding person.

What was a problem was the excessive amount of media attention to the appointment of the first woman and everything she did. Everywhere that Sandra went, the press was sure to go. And that got tiresome; it was stressful.

The destiny of the woman must be shaped to a large extent on her own conception of her spiritual imperative and her place in society.

I finally gave up my little law practice and stayed home for about three years. You have to do what you can to keep the family going. But I wanted to get back to work. So I got another babysitter and went to work as an Assistant Attorney General.

A fundamental premise of American democratic theory is that government exists to serve the people ... Public records are one portal through which the people observe their government, ensuring its accountability, integrity, and equity while minimizing sovereign mischief and malfeasance