O’Connor addresses W&M law students

WILLIAMSBURG -- Retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor made it clear that serving on the U.S. Supreme Court is no easy job.

"People always ask me questions about being on the court. 'Is it fun?' No, it is not fun. 'Interesting?' Very. 'Challenging?' Yes. It's work worth doing, and I'm privileged to have done it."

Speaking yesterday afternoon to an audience of more than 200 in Colonial Williamsburg's DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, O'Connor shared her thoughts, both political and personal.

"You can read their autobiographies and their decisions on cases, but when you get up close and see the human side of a justice . . . that is really something else," said first-year William and Mary law student Brendan Cleggs of Boston.

O'Connor, 79, spoke during the final session of William and Mary School of Law's 22nd annual Supreme Court Preview. She talked of everything from the confirmation of Justice Sonia Sotomayor to public education. "I've had the chance to meet [Sotomayor] several times. We've had delightful conversations, and I think she's settling in well," O'Connor said. "But two women is not enough. We need more."

On the subject of elected state judges, O'Connor is strongly opposed.

"It's frightening how huge sums of money are used in these campaigns. Interest groups are gaining massive control. No other country in the world elects its judges."

As for the quality of civic education in middle schools, O'Connor refers to it as "shameful."

"We are becoming an ignorant country. One-third of our citizens can't name the three branches of government. Only a pitifully tiny percentage of Americans can name a justice, while 80 percent can name one or more 'American Idol' judges."

O'Connor became the first female U.S. Supreme Court justice when she was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981. She served until 2006, when she stepped down to care for her husband, who has Alzheimer's.

O'Connor continues to work occasionally as a federal appellate judge in addition to traveling on behalf of civic education and judicial-election reform. She also serves as chancellor for the College of William and Mary.

Her fondest memory from the bench?

"It is a marvelous, unique place," she said. "In the Supreme Court, there are no deals worked out over lunch, no arm-twisting, no back-scratching. It is an amazing institution where the only thing that matters is your argument."