The Majesty of the Law: Reflections of a Supreme Court Justice

by Sandra Day O'Connor

In The Majesty of the Law, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor explores the law, her life as a Justice, and how the Court has evolved and continues to function, grow, and change as an American institution. Tracing some of the origins of American law through history, people, and ideas, O’Connor sheds new light on the basics, and through personal observation she explores the development of institutions and ideas we have come to regard as fundamental.
O’Connor discusses notable cases that have shaped American democracy and the Court as we know it today, and she traces the turbulent battle women have fought for a place in our nation’s legal system since America’s inception. Straight-talking, clear-eyed, inspiring, The Majesty of the Law is more than a reflection on O’Connor’s own experiences as the first female Justice of the Supreme Court; it also contains a discussion of how the suffrage movement changed the lives of women—in voting booths, jury boxes, and homes across the country.
In The Majesty of the Law, Sandra Day O’Connor reveals some of what she has learned and believes about American law and life, insights gleaned over her years as one of the most powerful and inspiring women in American history.
From the Hardcover edition.Author Sandra Day O’Connor was born in El Paso, Texas, and raised on the Lazy B, a ranch on the Arizona–New Mexico border. She attended college and law school at Stanford University, and began her public service in Phoenix, Arizona. She has been married to John O’Connor since 1952, and they have three sons. She is the author, with her brother, H. Alan Day, of Lazy B, a memoir about growing up in the American Southwest. Nominated by President Reagan as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, she took the oath of office on September 25, 1981, the first woman to do so.
Craig Joyce, editor, is Law Foundation Professor at the University of Houston Law Center, where he currently serves as codirector of the Institute for Intellectual Property and Information Law.
From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Law, Nonfiction, Biography, History, Politics, Memoir, Legal

Audio CD

First published December 20, 2002

About the author

Sandra Day O'Connor is an American jurist. She served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1981 until her retirement from the bench in 2006. The first woman to serve on the Supreme Court, she served as a crucial swing vote in some cases due to her case-by-case approach to jurisprudence and her somewhat moderate political views. However, during her time on the Court, she voted with the conservative Chief Justice William Rehnquist more than with any other justice.

Reviews

[Petra X · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good book for a non-American who wishes to understand the US legal system. It's exhaustively explanatory, but in a good way, it's well-written. I didn't find it dry at all, but a thoroughly interesting read. An American friend, an aviation lawyer, says that it's interesting to hear Sandra Day O'Connor's opinions, but that most of the book would be nothing new or riveting to anyone who'd been to law school in the States.

There isn't that much about the author in the book, which is a shame as she was the very first female Supreme Court justice, supported minorities and didn't have an agenda, wasn't a dyed in the wool conservative or liberal, but rather looked at each case on it's own merit and this was another point of interest in this very good book. The UK and Commonwealth equivalent is the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council but it's workings are quite dissimilar.

I enjoyed it the book. I know much more about the US now. I have a lot of respect for the Supreme Court but do wonder at how few cases ever make it there and the length of time it takes the judges to pontificate and reach a decision.

Read

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another dip into the ocean of biographies has left me refreshed, particularly as I veer onto a path of strong women. I had this audiobook by Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor sitting on my iPod and thought it would fit nicely into this string of biographical pieces. Little did I know that it was less a story about her than about the revered Supreme Court of the United States. Still, as the Court's first woman justice, I felt compelled to read on and hear her take on the highest court in America. Filled with a great deal of history and wonderful asides related to a number of key justices, Justice O'Connor educates and entertains the reader throughout this piece, while offering her own perspectives on the third branch of the American political system. A superior piece for any reader looking to have a better understanding of the court system and some of the backstories related to its most important decisions.

Justice O'Connor seeks to educate readers, many of whom know little about the day to day activities of the Supreme Court, discussion some of the nuances of choosing cases to come before the Court, hearings, and the decision-making process in chambers. From there, she offers a key primer on the selection of justices and some of the historical controversies that have befallen presidents whose nominees turned out to represent values that differed greatly from their past legal work. Without a firm understanding of the US Constitution (particularly in its historic context), justices would not be able to offer up well-grounded opinions, leaving Justice O'Connor to provide a firm narrative about this document and its accompanying Bill of Rights before delving into the interpretation of both, which she argues is the foundation of the court system; legal interpretations that rely on precedents to formulate the Rule of Law. Touching on a number of justices who shaped her legal and judicial career, Justice O'Connor provides the reader with some personal reflections that are useful for many who know nothing about these men, save for their mention in the history books. In the latter portion of the book, Justice O'Connor turns to the role of women, both in America and the legal realm, which is (obviously) of personal interest to her and of whom she is a significant pioneer. Exploring women's suffrage and working in the legal profession, Justice O'Connor illustrates the slow acceptance of equality and changes to the norm, which permitted equal footing amongst the genders in the eyes of the law. As she reaches the climax of the book, Justice O'Connor offers some personal opinions on the use of juries, allowing the law to grow organically and work in conjunction with laws of other countries, and the importance of non-elected federal judges, all of which support democracy by protecting the minority view. The reader may sail through this and gather some cogent arguments on their way to a stronger understanding of the legal system and potentially fostering added respect for it along the way.

While this ended up being a different book than I expected, I did find some strong biographical aspects to it. Justice O'Connor offered a thorough and comprehensive view of the legal system in America and the intricacies of the Supreme Court. With key civic lessons embedded into the narrative, Justice O'Connor educates the reader about many aspects of the finely-tuned machine that is the judicial branch. She peppers her commentary with personal anecdotes that help to pull the reader in and keeps the attention throughout. Of particular interest in the time spent discussion and analyzing the women's suffrage movement and push towards inclusion in the legal profession, based on merit and not quotas. As the first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor held a prominent role in history, though she did not rest on her laurels, choosing instead to shape legal queries alongside her eight colleagues. This book helps promote the importance of the Court, the legal system, and the role of women in the political and judicial branches of America. Its effectiveness exudes from every page and resonates long after the reader finishes this easily understood narrative.

Kudos, Justice O'Connor for such a wonderful primer. I feel even better educated and did take away many tidbit of new information. Your time on the Court was monumental and I hope to find a book that reflects your entire life's journey soon enough.

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com

[Mary Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

O'Connor writes with her usual clarity and simplicity, which makes her thoughts and theories very easy to follow. The prose is not especially moving, but Supreme Court Justices are chosen for the quality of their reasoning and not for their artistic or literary talents.

Lawyers, judges, and law grads will find large chunks of this book to be basic rehashes of things that were pounded into their skulls over three years of con law, civ pro, and so on. But it is still interesting to see what a Supreme Court Justice picks as the noteworthy events and aspects of our justice system. It would have been nice to have more of O'Connor's views and analysis instead of historical fact presented with little or no comment. Presumably this was done to make the discussion more accessible to lay people.

Mildly interesting, but overall disappointing for a reader already familiar with the US court system.

[Feisty Harriet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had initially thought this was some kind of autobiography, it is not. It is Justice O'Connor detailing the history of the court, the major decisions and docket trends under different Chief Justices, and how the court has maintained and shifted over the last 170 years. Some of the history bits were super fascinating, some were a little dry, however there is a section on women, women's suffrage, early feminists, and the twisting and frustrating road towards gender equality. I would award that section 8 gold stars if I could! I wish Sandra Day O'Connor would write a whole book about feminism, I'd be all over that.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starting with the Magna Carta former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor reviews the formation of the law of our land and writes of land mark cases the Supreme Court has decided and their affect on the law of our day. She relates a history of Justices who made major changes in the operation of the Supreme Court and also addresses the future challenges it will face moving into a more globalized world.

[Jeff Ferguson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great woman, but not a great book. Jumped around with several chapters of her "favorite" chief justices and how they influenced the court, then a sudden digression to summarize the history of women fighting for the right to vote. Lots of history without a lot of the authors opinions or thoughts. Not upset that I read it, but glad that I am done...

[vorthys · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dry, dry, dry.

[Dody Eid · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are some interesting stories and perspectives here and there, but much of this book is superficial.

[Danica is Booked · Rating 3 out of 5]

This boom is what the title sounds like—her reflections on law, the court, the current state of both, and how she thinks both could be changed or better. It’s also a defense of the court.

So basically the boom is exactly what it says it is. However, somehow I missed that. And it was not what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it all the same.

However, note it’s a book about the law not the justice.

[Kristen Neiding · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm probably biased because I am a lawyer so I find the law interesting. That said, I thought it was fascinating to hear a Supreme Court Justice chronicle the history of the law, leading up to her own appointment to the court. It was interesting to hear her story of learning of her appointment, then becoming a new justice, then sitting on the court for years. I enjoyed learning small details of the court's traditions, such as that all of the justices shake hands every day before taking the bench. I loved the portions where she spoke of Abraham Lincoln and Benito Juarez, showing her respect not only for the history of our country, but our neighboring countries as well.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good little history review if you can stay awake.....zzzzzzz

[Fahad Qazi · Rating 5 out of 5]

“There is another aspect of professionalism that goes more to the heart of what it means to be a lawyer. Lawyers are dissatisfied with their careers not simply because of the long hours and hard work or even the decline in civility. Rather, many lawyers question whether, at the end of the day, they have contributed anything worthwhile to society.Indeed, there is an old joke to that effect. It involves two men on a balloon expedition who became hopelessly lost in a storm. When the storm cleared, they found themselves floating above a one-lane road, with nothing in sight but wheat fields. There was no one, absolutely no one, around. Finally, they spotted a woman walking down the road.“Hey!” they called down. “Wheeere aaare weee?”To which the woman responded: “You’re up in a balloon, about twenty-five feet off the ground.”“She’s a lawyer,” one man commented to the other.“How do you know?” his companion asked.“Well,” he responded, “her answer was clear, precise, perfectly accurate—and totally useless.”I think we can all agree that perfect accuracy in the interest of utter futility is not the highest calling of the profession. Nor is it, in my opinion, the answer to why lawyers do what they do.”


“One of the strongest pillars of democracy is, I believe, the development of an educated citizenry. Establishing the right to vote is essential, but as we have discovered in the United States, citizens may not participate in the political process unless they understand it and believe they have a stake in the community. Nor can we be sure that the poor, the uneducated, the unskilled will respect or abide by the Rule of Law if they remain powerless and shut out. Although decent public education and job-creation programs strain government resources and taxpayers’ wallets, their absence may engender even greater burdens: crime, homelessness, drugs, violence, alienation, despair. We cannot allow our children to languish. They are our legacies and our future. Democracy cannot flourish without them.Democratic reform also requires a strong judicial system in which wrongdoers, no matter how influential, are punished, and victims, no matter how powerless, gain relief. Only with an independent judiciary can there be any assurance that justice will be served. Judges must be invested not only with the authority to decide cases. They must also be given the ability to apply the law as best they can, unencumbered by the vagaries of the political process and the threat of removal from public office. In difficult cases, in unpopular cases, in cases that may draw criticism from the executive branch of government, the legislature, the media, or the general populace, it is essential that judges be insulated from public pressure. However much we believe in the strength and integrity of the human spirit, we cannot expect judges to do justice without establishing an institutional framework that guarantees them that their next decision, however loathsome or unpopular, will not be their last.”

[Jim B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this gem in a "Little Free Library" in my neighborhood last year, and finally got around to reading it - coincidentally I was about half way through the book when I heard that Justice O'Connor died and read opinions and reactions to her work on the Supreme Court.

Although her book outlines the history of the Supreme Court and its development into how it functioned during her years of service, The Majesty of the Law also serves as an interesting snapshot of our nation's perspective at the turn of the millennium. Her brand of conservatism is no longer called conservatism. However, when I grew up in rural Wisconsin, conservatives were less of idealogues and more dedicated to the values that Sandra Day O'Connor held. Her work in office is criticized today as being too "ad hoc" and not enough about building legal philosophy. In the book she admits this about herself, but attributes this to the fact that in every case she has considered, she also limits herself to try to find justice for the specific parties involved, even if the just outcome doesn't fit with a legal philosophy that the Supreme Court wishes to abide by.

Of course, her conservatism was - even in its day - not enough to please conservatives. While regarding abortion as repulsive, she felt a commitment to uphold Roe v Wade. I remember reading, though, that no less a conservative than Barry Goldwater (who was considered extreme by some) felt that the government had no business inserting itself into citizen's lives in areas such as abortion and homosexuality. This book has only passing comments about Roe v Wade and nothing I can recall on "gay rights" but as those who lived through the 1980's might expect, an entire section of the book is dedicated to women's rights and she does an admirable job of not only covering the history, but exposing the prejudice that stripped women of many rights of citizenship for far longer in the United States than in many other countries. I found this section to be insightful and thought-provoking.

She recommends changes to our system, including improvements on jury trials. Her comments in this section seemed practical and open to other solutions. And near the end she looked at the future and described how the Supreme Court would have to advance a lot in international law, law affecting technology, etc. Her comments, read 20 years later, seem right on target.

After retirement, Sandra Day O'Connor advocated strongly for the teaching of civics in our nation. Maybe civics is still taught in some schools, but a lot of adults could use lessons in civics these days. That's not a put down - the health of our nation's system of democratic republic government depends on citizens understanding how to participate as "we the people."

[Elmer Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

For anyone who has had an American history class, this book summarizes those topics previously discussed. For everyone else, the ideas of how our U.S. Constitution has been shaped, modified, and applied are clearly articulated within this book. There isn't any secret dish or dirt from the previous Supreme Court Justice.

She embodies precisely how I thought she would be with her own words. Nothing revelatory nor shocking, but routinely logical reflections on what we mostly take for granted these days.

She chronicles the timeline of laws, changes to society, and her hopes for the new century from a wistful and well-earned place of honor. She cites her choice of three out of the numerous Chief Justices for their contributions, which aren't surprising.

Want to believe this would have been more insightful, but not disappointed in having read it.

Worth a nonfiction glance.

Thanks for reading.

[Mollie Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

In September of 1981, history was made. President Ronald Reagan appointed the very first female Justice to the Supreme Court, Sandra Day O’Connor. As a young girl, O’Connor grew up on a cattle farm in El Paso, Texas. She grew into an intelligent woman, who attended Stanford University and Stanford Law School. After she graduated law school, she was denied an interview by dozens of law firms solely because she was a woman. She did, however, eventually find a job as a deputy country attorney and proceeded to make her way up until she was appointed to the Arizona State Court of Appeals. During Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign, he pledged to appoint the first woman to the Supreme Court. This led to much resentment and controversy, however, he fulfilled his promise and on September 21st of 1981, he appointed Sandra Day O’Connor as an Associate Justice to the Supreme Court. Simply her background inspires me. Even today, there is discrimination toward women in the workplace and a notion that men are more intelligent, not to mention how much worse it was thirty years ago. Justice O’Connor’s story, however, contradicts this idea and serves as inspiration for women who want a pursue a career that is historically a man’s job. It is mind blowing that the United States established the Supreme Court in 1989 and the first time a woman served on the court was nearly 200 years later. Justice O’Connor serves as an inspiration and motivation for women to pursue a career of their choice, regardless of the precedent.
Even before I started this book, I knew it was going to be a compelling read simple because of my interest in law and the inspiring life of Sandra Day O’Connor. From the very first page, I knew this book would be a good choice for me because she puts things in layman’s terms and her style of writing is eloquent yet understandable. She breaks down the book into six parts, each part explaining a different topic. She goes into depth about her life on the court, the history, important people, women’s role in law, the legal profession and how the law is impacted by current events. In part one, she talks about the daily routines of the Supreme Court because most of what the court does is closed to the public eye. I liked this part because you don’t hear much about what goes on during a particular day within the Supreme Court and it was interesting to read about the routines. It gave sort of an insider look into how the Justice’s do their work. In part two, O’Connor speaks about the history of the court. This part wasn’t particularly interesting if you are someone who knows a substantial amount about the history of the Supreme Court. This part was pretty much basic information for someone who had no concept of the history, which again, was not me so this section was not my favorite. In part three, O’Connor goes on to discuss the important people who have helped influence the court and shaped it into what the Supreme Court is today. There have been a total of 108 Associate Justices and 16 Chief Justices, all of which were vital in contributing to the opinions of the court up to today. She conveys the importance in remembering that each Justice served a part in making the court what it is, whether it be a small or big part. She also includes her opinions and commentary on some of the Justices she served with. In part four, O’Connor recounts her time as a woman in a career dominated by men. When she went to law school, there was only a handful of other women who attended law schools across the country. She believes that WWII opened up many opportunities for women to become successful in fields that were typically overpowered by males. In fact, she says that currently there are more women enrolled in law school than men. I believe women in society owe many of our strides as a gender to her and that she was the reason for women to pursue careers in law. In part five, O’Connor explains more in depth the legal profession and the many courts that make up our Judicial System. She admits that our system, although good, still has many flaws. She explains where our Justice system should be improved, including our jury system and the neglect of the law in some circumstances. In the final part of her book, O’Connor breaks down how current events and the new circumstances around the world have affected the law and how the law is attempting to keep up with the times. She explains how events such as September 11th have helped improve our system and shown the world that the rule of law is one of the only ways to ensure freedom across the globe. She also describes the role of the Constitution and the U.S. court system in our country’s past and future.
Throughout this book, I have learned a lot about our country’s court system, as well as about the people who have helped make it what it is today. Justice O’Connor truly serves as an inspiration to not only women but all American citizens. She overcame many obstacles to get where she is today and it is truly motivating to see that hard work can equate to success. This book opened my eyes to the Supreme Court and everything they do to ensure our country runs smoothly. Although I agree there are things to be done to fix some parts of our system, I believe ours is one of the best in the world. Her book has also made me proud of our country’s strides since we were first established in 1776. We have truly expanded our thinking and adjusted to the times we face. Justice O’Connor does a great job of explaining and breaking down our legal system in this book. The writing is understandable yet at the same time provides many details that I never knew before. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the law and who wishes to learn more about the role of our legal system in today’s affairs.

[Matthew Taggart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really dug this book. Written in 2003, it is incredibly relevant for today (2021). I don’t know Justice O’Conners voting record or her views on various topics, but she seems to work as a judge acting in good faith. What is so amazing is, she goes out of her way to point out that even those she disagrees with operate from good faith as well. Just refreshing to read someone so smart advocating the need to treat law and arbitration as dialogues rather than battles... also mind blowing in terms of women’s rights and advancements. Proves that America has a long way to go, while still championing the ideals that do make it a wonderful country to live in and make change for the better. I would recommend.

[Randy Tramp · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great woman. What a great book. I read it slowly, getting in as much information as possible. And, there is a lot. Many times going over my head, and yet, other times just right. She explores the law, her life as a Supreme Court Justice, and how the Court has evolved. The Majesty of the Law demonstrates how great a nation the United States has become, starting off with a powerfully great foundation. It made me proud to be an American, while at the same time ashamed at some of our past. Yet, because of our system of government we were able to go past that. As a nation, we have further to go, but I'm certain we'll get there.

[Jen Pratt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am torn on how to rate this book. It is fantastic info and I am glad I listened, but it was quite dry at times. It is a fairly comprehensive overview of our justice system, particularly of the evolution of the Supreme Court. There are specific justices highlighted and the rulings that created precedents about how the individual is seen in the eyes of the law. She also did an overview of women’s rights and how they have evolved. It felt a bit like the justice segments of a Government 101 class, but it was a good review. That said, it was a bit boring so I wouldn’t have pressed on if I had been reading instead of listening. 3.5 stars!

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

I misjudged this book, thinking it would be more about Sandra Day O'Conner - while of course it has some information on her over all it is more a general take on the court system … ok maybe not general. There was a great deal of information on the court system, which was informative and I did learn however I as much as I wanted to like the book it was just ok for be because it wasn't want I thought it was - which is not her fault, however what it was didn't just jump me into the like zone.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting read, there is a lot about the history of law in the United States and some personal opinions/reflections on the same. You can tell the book is a little dated in terms of modern politics but still interesting. I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author and I think that added a little something to it as well.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical and philosophical view of the Supreme Court

The textbook about the Supreme Court I never had in high school. Day O’Connor presents the historical context and her views of the importance of the Supreme Court in maintaining democracy. I wonder if the optimistic view she had in 2004 remains so in 2019! A dry but educational read. I loved the history.

[Shary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfectly titled. The book is an overview of the Supreme Court, how it works, a brief history of the Constitution, its ratification, the Bill of Rights and more. She highlights people who have shaped the court, women and the law, and highlights some problems and potential solutions. She discusses how the courts have evolved and need to evolve further. Clear and easy to read.

[Robert Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Justice Sandra Day O’Conner’s book shines when she explores some contributions by great Justices such as Holmes, Taft, Marshall, and others, when she discusses women, the justice system, and the law, fixing issues in our judicial systems (such as treating juries like people, letting jurors take notes, helping jurors understand the law, etc.), and how we should look abroad, too.

[Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

an interesting and, I suspect, basic overview of American history and law. at times, it felt like the observations were idealized and aspirational; I'm interested in how this book might change if written now. (for example, the repeated commentary on the importance of the court maintaining legitimacy...)

[Lance J. LoRusso · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic view inside the mind and thoughts of a brilliant jurist and public servant. You will love this book whether you are an attorney or someone who wants to learn more about how the United States Supreme Court works.

[Josh Hedgepeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I talk about it on my YouTube channel.
Rating Break Down
Writing Style: 7/10
Content: 6/10
Structure: 6/10
Engagement: 7/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Comprehension: 8/10
Desire to Reread: 0/10
Special: 0/10
Calculated Rating: 3.225/10
Final Rating: 3/5
Note, each rating is weighted based on personal importance to calculate a final score that is rounded to the nearest half.

[Yvonne Lacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish we had Justice O'Connor back on the bench. Her perspective on the importance of balance in government and on the need for thoughtful consideration of individual rights are much needed today.

[Amy the book-bat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting a memoir, but it was really more of a history lesson on the Supreme Court. It was very interesting and I learned a lot of things that were never covered in any of my history classes.

[Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Supreme Court history. Not a biography. Famous justices. Relevant but dated. Badass woman.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

For someone who has gone through law school and did not enjoy Consistutional Law, this was not an enjoyable book to read. I did not finish it.