Justice Sandra Day O'Connor

Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor listens to remarks by President Bush and U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales after she administered the oath of office to Gonzales, at the Justice Department in Washington, Feb. 14, 2005.

O'Connor, the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court and a key swing vote on issues such as abortion and the death penalty, said July 1, 2005, she is retiring.

Sandra Day O'Connor, in a 1950 Stanford University college yearbook photo. She graduated with a B.A. that year and continued at Stanford Law School, graduating third in her class. She remained in California, and became a deputy county attorney.

More photos of Sandra Day O'Connor during her college years at Stanford University.

Supreme Court nominee Sandra Day O'Connor raises her right hand to be sworn in before the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Sept. 9, 1981. She served as a judge in the Arizona Court of Appeals until her appointment to the high court. O'Connor also served as a state senator, and is the only sitting justice to have served in public office.

Supreme Court nominee Sandra Day O'Connor speaks before a Senate hearing on her nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, Sept. 9, 1981.

Sandra Day O'Connor waves after her unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate to the Supreme Court, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sept. 21, 1981. Standing with O'Connor, from left to right, are: Attorney General William French Smith, Sen. Barry Goldwater, R-Ariz., Sen. Dennis DeConcini, D-Ariz., Vice President George Bush, and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C.

Supreme Court Justice designate Sandra Day O'Connor poses with first lady Nancy Reagan, Chief Justice Warren Burger and President Ronald Reagan during a reception at the White House, Sept. 24, 1981.

Sandra Day O'Connor is sworn in as an Associate Justice by Chief Justice Warren Burger, at the Supreme Court in Washington, Sept. 25, 1981. Holding two family Bibles, at center, is husband John J. O'Connor. The O'Connors have three sons, Scott, Brian and Jay.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor poses with Chief Justice Warren Berger after her swearing-in at the Supreme Court in Washington Sept. 25, 1981.

Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, left, is greeted by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, July 25, 1984.

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is seen here in 1993.

Sandra Day O'Connor built a reputation as a hard-working moderate conservative who emerged as a crucial power broker on the nine-member court, seen here in Washington, Dec. 5, 2003. Here O'Connor, seated second from right, is seen with her fellow Justices.

Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is photographed before administering the oath of office to members of the Texas Supreme Court, Jan. 6, 2003, in Austin, Texas.

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is seen in her office at the Supreme Court, April 7, 2003, in Washington.

Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor smiles after being awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree during commencement ceremonies at the George Washington University Law School, May 25, 2003, in Washington.

Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, left, and her husband, John, attend an awards ceremony at Touro Law Center in Huntington, N.Y., March 9, 2004.

Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor reads a sermon during funeral service for President Ronald Reagan, at Washington National Cathedral, June 11, 2004. President Reagan broke nearly 200 years of tradition when he tapped her for the high court in 1981.

Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor waves a cowboy hat, which was given to her as a gift, at an event sponsored by the University of Houston Law Center, in downtown Houston, March 10, 2005.