Fmr. Justice O'Connor Speaks In SF, Doesn't Regret 2000 Election Vote
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – The U.S. Supreme Court justice who cast the swing vote that gave the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush said during a speech in San Francisco on Monday that she has no regrets.
Retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor said she is now using her retirement to promote more civic engagement among young Americans.
O'Connor told the Commonwealth Club on Monday that she is not one to fret over past opinions, even though she admits Bush vs. Gore in 2000 was among her toughest.
KCBS' Doug Sovern Reports:
"Make the decision and move on. I don't go back later and say, 'Oh my gosh, do you think I was right?' I don't do that," O'Connor said. "But if you do, there isn't a lot you can do about it if you're on the Supreme Court."
O'Connor was the deciding vote in that case, halting the recount in Florida and making Bush president.
The retired justice said she is thrilled to see three women on the high court now and said the previously all-male club welcomed her enthusiastically, when President Ronald Reagan made her the first.
"I felt no resentment at all among any of my colleagues that I was there and I was a woman," she said. "Of course, we didn't have a women's restroom back on the floor where the justices were. That created a problem."
O'Connor has a website now called iCivics.org, which uses online games to teach young people about government. She said too many people are illiterate about civics and don't bother to vote.
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