Sandra Day O'Connor retires.

[Daikun]

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, announced her retirement this morning after 24 years on the high court, setting the stage for what promises to be a bruising fight to confirm her successor.

"It has been a great privilege indeed to have served as a member of the court for 24 terms," the 75-year-old justice said in a three-sentence letter sent to the White House this morning. "I will leave it with enormous respect for the integrity of the court and its role under our constitutional structure."

Less than an hour later, President Bush -- speaking from the Rose Garden -- praised O'Connor as "a discerning and conscientious judge, and a public servant of complete integrity."

"Justice O'Connor's great intellect, wisdom and personal decency have won her the esteem of her colleagues and our country," the president said.

O'Connor forged a reputation as a moderate conservative seen as a critical swing vote on a host of hot-button issues, from abortion to affirmative action, and her departure is sure to ignite a passionate ideological battle over her successor. She said she will step down once her successor is confirmed.

Her retirement creates the first vacancy on the court in 11 years, ending the longest period without a change on the bench in nearly 200 years.

Although her resignation had been rumored for weeks, O'Connor's departure caught the Bush Administration -- which had expected Chief Justice William Rehnquist to step down first -- by surprise. An administration that had been mulling how to fill a vacancy left by a conservative man now finds itself pondering how to replace a moderate woman, an administration officials told the Associated Press, speaking anonymously because of the private nature of the selection process.

Bush promised to move quickly and name a successor before the court's next term begins in October. Source: San Francisco Chronicle (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/07/01/MNoconnor01.DTL)

Wow. No words express how I feel right now. A woman who broke the gender barrier in the Supreme Court and made national history is leaving her long-held position. This is really something.

[Fan of Sponge]

What a surprise...

O'Connor wanted to spend more time with her family. I can't blame her. Her husband has Alzheimer's and he needs more help getting around now.:( All I can say for the next Supreme Court Justice, good luck.

[Kurtman]

All I have to say is,happy trails to her!

[Mr. Pedro]

As much as I wish the best for O'Connor with her retirement, and as much as I don't want to sound like a pessimist, I can't help but feel that DC's going to get ugly again REALLY quick.

[Peter Paltridge]

It's going to be an absolute bloodbath up there. At stake is Control of Everything, and no left/right activist group is going to want another moderate that may not push their agendas. If it's true that whoever Bush nominates can be blocked, then this may take an extremely long time to resolve. It'll get even worse if another Supreme steps down while this is still going on!

Anyway, 25 years is certainly long enough. Of the nine Supreme Court justices, Sandra was the first one I ever knew about (and up to now, one of the only ones I know about). Thanx for the service.

[Zach]

Yippee. Now everyone in DC is going to be in UTTER CHAOS. We all know what is next. Bush apoints someone and then the Dems filibuster and then the Fox News starts screaming and being retards and everyone is yelling and getting absolutly NOTHING accomplished. YAY!!! :shrug:

[Chris Wood]

Is it me, or did the rats just jump in the lifeboat?

[SSJPabs]

It's going to be an absolute bloodbath up there. At stake is Control of Everything, and no left/right activist group is going to want another moderate that may not push their agendas. If it's true that whoever Bush nominates can be blocked, then this may take an extremely long time to resolve. It'll get even worse if another Supreme steps down while this is still going on!

Anyway, 25 years is certainly long enough. Of the nine Supreme Court justices, Sandra was the first one I ever knew about (and up to now, one of the only ones I know about). Thanx for the service.I think you're might be wrong about the activists, at least on the left. I know at least, the online people are discussing candidates like Michael McConnell (http://www.law.utah.edu/faculty/bios/mcconnellm.html), and Alex Kozinski (http://notabug.com/kozinski/). Another option might be John Roberts (http://air.fjc.gov/servlet/tGetInfo?jid=3001) or even in an extreme case, Alberto Gonzales. (I trust no need for a link there.) I can almost guarantee you that McConnell at least, would sail through the confirmation. Personally I think making Roe the be all and end all of a litmus test here would be a mistake.

As for another stepping down, it won't happen. O'Connor won't step down until her successor is appointed, and if the court sits past I think, September 13, they will have been the longest sitting static supreme court in history and Rehnquist wants to break the record. So I'd say the earliest we have another step down is next January. But yep, it's a bloodbath, and I say to you all, bring it on because this is one of the most important decisions of the next 30 years.

[William C. Maune]

I think you're might be wrong about the activists, at least on the left. I know at least, the online people are discussing candidates like Michael McConnell (http://www.law.utah.edu/faculty/bios/mcconnellm.html), and Alex Kozinski (http://notabug.com/kozinski/). Another option might be John Roberts (http://air.fjc.gov/servlet/tGetInfo?jid=3001) or even in an extreme case, Alberto Gonzales. (I trust no need for a link there.) I can almost guarantee you that McConnell at least, would sail through the confirmation. Personally I think making Roe the be all and end all of a litmus test here would be a mistake.

Speaking of which, Bill Frist and Harry Reid (the Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate respectively) have already been meeting in anticipation of a Supreme Court opening to discuss possible nominees. When asked for ideas, the Democrats (through Reid) submitted the names of 4 Republicans. Thus, despite what outside groups on either side of the issues might try and do, things may proceed fairly calmly where it matters as long as everyone continues to work together.

[I.R Joey]

Whoa so we can have political discussion here again? Whoa cool.

Yeah this is going to be a real good one. This will be a dirty, lowdown, ugly, partisan bloodbath in Washington. Looks like the longer fuse MCcain and the other moderates put on this thing is running outta time.

Can't wait to watch.

[solarflere]

I can't believe its Sandra Day O’Connor; I expected it to be Chief Justice William Rehnquist to leave the Supreme Court, mostly for his age and longest service. He still might leave so there will be to Justices to replace and to appoint a new Chief Justice as well.

[TrogdorNyimbhat]

She didn't break the gender barrier alone, president Reagan did by appoining her as the judicial branch (conservative) supreme court judge, and she betrayed him. Besides, after 25 years it is time for someone else to take the job. Someone who doesn't harass their position and takes actions on which they campaigned.

[William C. Maune]

Whoa so we can have political discussion here again? Whoa cool.

Nope. As long as the thread remains about the fact that she retired, is being replaced and about the process in general then it is likely ok. However, once it becomes a debate by the various sides, then it is likely political and not ok.

[SSJPabs]

Back in 1993 (before the GOP takeover), Clinton consulted then ranking chair Orrin Hatch on nominees to the SCOTUS. It was hatch who suggested Breyer and Ginsburg. It's in Hatch's autobio.

Our conversation moved to other potential candidates. I asked whether he had considered Judge Stephen Breyer of the First Circuit Court of Appeals or Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. President Clinton indicated he had heard Breyer’s name but had not thought about Judge Ginsberg.

I indicated I thought they would be confirmed easily. I knew them both and believed that, while liberal, they were highly honest and capable jurists and their confirmation would not embarrass the President. From my perspective, they were far better than the other likely candidates from a liberal Democrat administration.
So I hope they carry on the idea of the president taking those recommendations into account with the senate.

[Gatomon41]

Meh. Like retirement is a major cause for excitement.

Unless they mean Blade Runner "Retirement" :p

[Aquadementia]

Too bad she's stepping down. I always thought she approached cases in a vary impartial and reasoned manner.

I don't personally remember much of her confirmation hearings. That's probably because she got approved unanimously by the senate, and it wasn't a row like so many later nominations.

As far as her replacement, unfortunately we've seen extremist ready to vilify anyone shown to be moderate in their own party.
How smoothly this goes depends on how much ideological baggage the next nominee has.
If this turns out to be the knockdown-drag-out fight some are expecting, it could deliver a huge blow to public confidence in our political system as it stands.
Hope that wasn't too political of a statement.

[randomguy]

I can't believe its Sandra Day O’Connor; I expected it to be Chief Justice William Rehnquist to leave the Supreme Court, mostly for his age and longest service. I think most of us expected Rehnquist to step down. Sandra Day O'Connor came as a major surprise.

Obviously, this is a pretty major deal. With Rehnquist stepping down in the not-too-distant future more or less certain, Bush will be making two Supreme Court appointments in his second term, which is a prospect I'm sure gets more than a few people fuming. It will be interesting to watch... I just hope any possible ensuing partisan bickering doesn't worsen the divide in this country any more.

[I.R Joey]

Nope. As long as the thread remains about the fact that she retired, is being replaced and about the process in general then it is likely ok. However, once it becomes a debate by the various sides, then it is likely political and not ok.
Are you kidding, this story? Not being politicially charged? :confused: Oh well I'll try.

Anyway, with Rehnquest's future still hanging in the balance it's very possible that we could soon have not one but two Supreme court seats to fill.

[sun]

It will be very difficult to name a new Justice, as fair and willing to see the total picture as Sandra Day O'Connor..I wish the best for her, and the person that follows..I hope that cool heads will prevail, and an outstanding compromise Justice is appointed..