Sandra Day O'Connor's legacy seen through Arizona's schools, buildings
Sandra Day O'Connor's legacy can be seen across the Phoenix area on buildings dedicated to her work in Arizona and as a Supreme Court justice.
O'Connor, the first woman to serve on the high court, died Dec. 1, 2023, in Phoenix. She was 93.
Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
Arizona State University's law school was renamed the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law on April 5, 2006. It is the only law school in the country named after a woman.
During her time in the state Legislature, O'Connor served on the Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee voted on the legislation giving ASU funding to create a law school.
"I was from Maricopa County and ultimately I voted for that proposition, never dreaming of course that my name would ever be associated with it," she said at a celebration of the school's renaming.
Sandra Day O'Connor Institute
O'Connor founded the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute in 2009. The nonpartisan institute provides programs focusing on civics education, civic engagement and civil discourse.
Originally, it was called the Sandra Day O'Connor House. The house, built in 1959 by the justice and her husband, John, was moved from Paradise Valley to Papago Park in Tempe in 2009. The O'Connors hosted community leaders over meals and conversations when they lived in the home, according to the institute.
Mudslinging: O'Connor's former home, center of civility in Tempe, gets flung with mud
Sandra Day O'Connor High School
The high school in the Deer Valley Unified School District opened in 2002. O'Connor came to the school for its dedication in 2003.
"Can you imagine driving up to a beautiful new facility and seeing your name engraved across the front of it? It's quite a thrill," O'Connor told students at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The Arizona Republic reported that the school's principal, Jack Dillard, never gave up on his efforts to convince O'Connor to visit the school. He sent photos of the school campus and gave her his business card when standing in line at the dedication for the U.S. Courthouse.
"Use your talents and education in ways that make your parents and teachers and yes, me too, proud," O'Connor told the students.
Sandra O'Connor Elementary School
The justice made a surprise visit to the school in the Mesa Unified School District before it welcomed its first students in 1986. She filmed a video with the school's principal for future students.
"She is a very down-to-earth person and has a nice style," Mesa Unified School District spokeswoman Judi Willis told The Republic.
To celebrate the school's 10th anniversary, O'Connor spoke to students about her childhood.
"We didn't have television when I grew up," she said in 1996, The Republic reported. "The way I entertained myself was by reading and riding horses."
She told students it was important to learn to be good citizens and readers, and to do their best at every job.
Sandra Day O'Connor U.S. Courthouse
The justice helped dedicate the federal courthouse in 2000. The glass building, located at 401 W. Washington St., opened a year later.
It was part of a $9 billion program to build 160 courthouses across the country by 2010, The Republic reported.
'A person for all seasons': Sandra Day O'Connor's life remembered
Lauren Castle is a former reporter for The Arizona Republic.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sandra Day O'Connor's legacy seen through Arizona's schools, buildings
