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Obstacles Sandra Day O'Connor Overcame to Become First Woman on U.S. Supreme Court
Aired May 19, 2003 - 15:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Some major decisions today from the United States Supreme Court, including a victory for Ford. The carmaker is fighting a record $290 million damage award for a deadly SUV rollover accident a decade ago. Today, the justices ordered a California court to consider whether that award is out of line in light of a recent high court ruling setting limits on punitive damages.
The Supreme Court also gave the state of Maine the green light to force drug manufacturers to lower prices on prescription drugs. But the justices warn that the unique state program may not survive further court challenges. And the high court said it will consider when government money can be spent on religious education, a follow-up to its landmark ruling upholding school voucher programs.
Well, as the Supreme Court nears the end of its current session, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is moonlighting. She's written a new book "The Majesty of the Law." Coming up: my interview with Justice O'Connor about her book, her life and her remarkable career. But first, a reminder of the personal and the political obstacles that she overcame to become the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RONALD REAGAN, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: She is truly a person for all seasons, possessing those unique qualities of temperament, fairness, intellectual capacity and devotion to the public good.
WOODRUFF (voice-over): More than 20 years have passed since Ronald Reagan catapulted Sandra Day O'Connor into the history books. She emerged from relative obscurity, ascending to the top rung of the American judiciary from a seat on the Arizona Court of Appeals. It was a long climb to the top.
The first woman Supreme Court justice graduated third in her class at Stanford Law, but could find work only as a secretary. She eventually hung out her own shingle, then became active in Arizona politics and served as the state Senate's first female majority leader. She even thought about a run for governor.
Instead, O'Connor chose the bench, a path which led to Washington, where the Senate unanimously confirmed her nomination to the highest court in the land. Despite the smooth transition, the new junior justice faced a particular kind of scrutiny. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One might inquire as to your general feelings on the rights of women and how that might be (ph) effective in the public policy arena, or the rights of minorities, blacks, for example.
WOODRUFF: On the court, O'Connor has been something of a wildcard, establishing herself as a swing vote on emotionally and politically charged issues ranging from abortion to religion and affirmative action. And now, more than 50 years after her Stanford graduation, she's often called the most powerful woman in the country.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOODRUFF: Still ahead, my interview with Sandra Day O'Connor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUSTICE SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR: I think that is a factor in making it important. The faith that people have in their government is shaped, in part, by the makeup of it. Who's there?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WOODRUFF: Justice O'Connor shares her views on the importance of women in high places, including her groundbreaking arrival on the high court.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Woman on U.S. Supreme Court>
Aired May 19, 2003 - 15:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Some major decisions today from the United States Supreme Court, including a victory for Ford. The carmaker is fighting a record $290 million damage award for a deadly SUV rollover accident a decade ago. Today, the justices ordered a California court to consider whether that award is out of line in light of a recent high court ruling setting limits on punitive damages.
The Supreme Court also gave the state of Maine the green light to force drug manufacturers to lower prices on prescription drugs. But the justices warn that the unique state program may not survive further court challenges. And the high court said it will consider when government money can be spent on religious education, a follow-up to its landmark ruling upholding school voucher programs.
Well, as the Supreme Court nears the end of its current session, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is moonlighting. She's written a new book "The Majesty of the Law." Coming up: my interview with Justice O'Connor about her book, her life and her remarkable career. But first, a reminder of the personal and the political obstacles that she overcame to become the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RONALD REAGAN, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: She is truly a person for all seasons, possessing those unique qualities of temperament, fairness, intellectual capacity and devotion to the public good.
WOODRUFF (voice-over): More than 20 years have passed since Ronald Reagan catapulted Sandra Day O'Connor into the history books. She emerged from relative obscurity, ascending to the top rung of the American judiciary from a seat on the Arizona Court of Appeals. It was a long climb to the top.
The first woman Supreme Court justice graduated third in her class at Stanford Law, but could find work only as a secretary. She eventually hung out her own shingle, then became active in Arizona politics and served as the state Senate's first female majority leader. She even thought about a run for governor.
Instead, O'Connor chose the bench, a path which led to Washington, where the Senate unanimously confirmed her nomination to the highest court in the land. Despite the smooth transition, the new junior justice faced a particular kind of scrutiny. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One might inquire as to your general feelings on the rights of women and how that might be (ph) effective in the public policy arena, or the rights of minorities, blacks, for example.
WOODRUFF: On the court, O'Connor has been something of a wildcard, establishing herself as a swing vote on emotionally and politically charged issues ranging from abortion to religion and affirmative action. And now, more than 50 years after her Stanford graduation, she's often called the most powerful woman in the country.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOODRUFF: Still ahead, my interview with Sandra Day O'Connor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUSTICE SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR: I think that is a factor in making it important. The faith that people have in their government is shaped, in part, by the makeup of it. Who's there?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WOODRUFF: Justice O'Connor shares her views on the importance of women in high places, including her groundbreaking arrival on the high court.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Woman on U.S. Supreme Court>
