Justice Sandra Day O’Connor honored at Karamah Reception

June 26, 2003 - Washington, DC

Karamah, the Muslim women lawyers for human rights, held a reception Thursday, June 26 in honor of United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Heather Andrews of the Islamic Institute attended this reception. O’Connor discussed the importance of women and minorities participating in politics. She believes the true test of civilization is the position of women in the society.

O’Connor addressed women’s stance in society in terms of the United States. For women here, getting the right to vote in 1920 was an important start to change. Then, the two World Wars contributed to women’s rise as they filled jobs left vacant while men were at war. Women discovered they can work outside the home, and do it well.

When the justice went to Stanford University for law school in 1950, women only made up 1 percent of all students in law school. She also had a hard time finding a job after graduation. No law firm in California wanted to hire her and only one offered her a position as a legal secretary. Now, women make up 52 percent of all law students.

O’Connor believes it is important for women to get over the differences and unite to have one concrete goal, namely greater involvement for women’s political rights and participation. She also feels change will have a great chance of succeeding when it follows rather than leads public opinion.

The justice discussed her impending trip to Bahrain in September. Fifteen to twenty nations will discuss judicial reforms at a conference to be attended by O’Connor. She will discuss the needs for an independent judiciary in a country, and is currently have the published UN standards on the subject translated into Arabic. O’Connor also believes a country needs qualified, ethical judges along with a transparent and predictable judiciary.

The justice’s final remarks were about September 11 and advice for women and minorities in the future. O’Connor states that it was the duty of all Muslims and non-Muslims to prevent a universal attitude being shaped against Islam. This notion follows her advice about uniting for one goal. Finally, in referring to her own life, and giving advice to women and minorities, O’Connor said to do the best you can do and never look back.

O’Connor gave an appearance of a very intelligent, no nonsense woman. Her seventy-three years of life experience as well as her struggle as a woman breaking boundaries highlighted her remarks. She refused to discuss the possibility of retirement.