From Triumph To Tragedy, ‘First’ Tells Story Of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor

Late last year, retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor issued a statement announcing that she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. It was a poignant moment, a reminder that for decades O’Connor was seen as the most powerful woman in America.

Now comes an important book about her — First, Sandra Day O’Connor: An Intimate Portrait of the First Woman Supreme Court Justice. It is unlike every other volume written about O’Connor — even the books the justice wrote about herself.

For those too young to remember, O’Connor was so admired on the public stage that there were even suggestions she run for president. She had no interest in that, but her vote and her approach to judging dominated the U.S Supreme Court for a quarter of a century, until her retirement in 2006.