Sandra Day O’Connor, a former Supreme Court Justice, has died at the age of 93.

Sandra Day O’Connor, the groundbreaking Supreme Court Justice who became the first woman to serve on the nation’s highest court in 1981 and played a pivotal role in a frequently divided panel for the next 25 years, has passed away at the age of 93. According to a statement from the Supreme Court, her death was attributed to complications arising from advanced dementia, likely Alzheimer’s, and a respiratory ailment. O’Connor retired from the Supreme Court in 2006, partly to support her husband, John Jay O’Connor III, in his battle with Alzheimer’s disease, which he succumbed to three years later. In October 2018, she made her diagnosis of early-stage dementia, likely Alzheimer’s, public in a letter.

The Supreme Court’s official statement included Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr.’s tribute to Justice O’Connor, highlighting her historic role as the nation’s first female Justice. He praised her unwavering determination, undeniable skills, and candid communication in meeting this challenge. Roberts also expressed the Court’s mourning for the loss of a cherished colleague, an independent champion of the rule of law, and a passionate promoter of civics education, while celebrating her lasting impact as a dedicated public servant and patriot.

Hailing from Texas, O’Connor shattered the glass ceiling that had persisted for 192 years, paving the way for her female counterparts such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor. Throughout her tenure, she emerged as a pivotal swing vote in numerous cases, including the landmark decision supporting a woman’s abortion rights in Roe vs. Wade.

Nominated by President Reagan, O’Connor played a crucial role as the pivotal vote in Bush v. Gore, the contentious legal dispute that unfolded after the 2000 presidential election. This ruling effectively halted the Florida recount and led to George W. Bush’s presidency, while Al Gore found himself on the losing side of the race.

While officially holding a conservative position, O’Connor consistently championed causes such as protecting abortion rights, endorsing affirmative action, and expressing reservations about the death penalty. She also staunchly defended the principles of states’ rights and the need for checks on presidential authority.

In some of the Supreme Court’s most contentious debates, O’Connor often found herself on the prevailing side, casting her vote with the majority in 148 out of 193 cases decided by a slim 5-4 margin between 1995 and her retirement.

Sandra Day O’Connor, a product of the American Southwest, was born in El Paso, Texas, and raised on her family’s Arizona cattle ranch known as the “Lazy B.” She embraced the cowgirl lifestyle, becoming skilled in horseback riding and assisting with various farm tasks from a young age. Recognized for her exceptional intellect, she began reading at just four years old and excelled in her studies.

O’Connor’s parents chose to send her to school in El Paso, where she resided with her grandmother during the school year, returning to the ranch for summers.

She successfully applied to Stanford University, defying the institution’s gender bias to secure admission, and in 1950, she graduated with a degree in economics. Just two years later, she completed her law degree at Stanford’s law school, ranking third in her class of 102 students, which included her future Supreme Court colleague William Rehnquist.

However, upon graduating, O’Connor faced the harsh reality of gender discrimination in the legal profession. Law firms in Los Angeles and San Francisco were unwilling to hire a female attorney, leaving her with only one job offer, a secretarial position.

Determined to establish herself in the legal field, she eventually secured an unpaid role with a county attorney in San Mateo, California, gradually advancing to the position of deputy county attorney. During this time, she married John O’Connor, a fellow Stanford Law graduate. In 1954, they relocated to Germany, where John served as an Army attorney, while Sandra worked as a civilian lawyer specializing in contracts.

In 1958, the couple returned to Arizona, where Sandra O’Connor briefly practiced in private law before being appointed as the state’s assistant attorney general in 1965. After a four-year tenure, she was selected to fill a vacant seat in the Arizona state senate, becoming its first female majority leader. In 1973, while raising her sons Scott, Brian, and Jay, O’Connor transitioned to the role of a judge by winning an election to the Maricopa County Superior Court.

Her career continued to ascend when she was appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals in 1979. President Ronald Reagan fulfilled his campaign promise to place a woman on the Supreme Court by formally nominating her on August 19, 1981. The U.S. Senate confirmed her a month later, and on September 25, 1981, she was sworn in as the first female justice on the Supreme Court.

Reflecting on her journey in her autobiography, “Lazy B: Growing Up on a Cattle Ranch in the American Southwest,” she remarked, “It did not seem possible that a ranch girl would grow up to serve on our nation’s highest court.”

While serving on the Supreme Court, O’Connor faced a personal challenge when she received a breast cancer diagnosis in 1988, leading to her mastectomy. In a courageous move, she openly shared her battle with the disease and her treatment in a 1994 address to the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.

Her tenure on the Supreme Court concluded on January 31, 2006, with her successor, Justice Samuel Alito, taking her place. In recognition of her remarkable career and contributions, President Obama bestowed upon O’Connor the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 2009. Additionally, Arizona State University honored her by naming its law school after her.

After nine years of battling Alzheimer’s, O’Connor, who was 88 years old at the time, made her struggle with the same debilitating disease public. Her reliance on a wheelchair due to a hip injury had become a part of her daily life.

In an October 2018 statement, she acknowledged, “As this condition has progressed, I am no longer able to participate in private life.” She went on to share personal thoughts, expressing her openness about the changes brought on by dementia. Despite the challenges ahead, she maintained her profound gratitude and appreciation for the numerous blessings in her life.