By Justice Sandra Day O'Connor

Interview with Scholastic News

January 2008

ITEM DETAILS
Type: Interview, Magazine article
Source: Scholastic News, Scholastic News

Article Text

(Excerpt)

Sandra Day O'Connor greets Kid Reporter Danny Murphy in the Lawyers' Lounge in the Supreme Court Building. (Photo: Ron Sachs/Consolidated News Photos)

September 17 is Constitution Day. On Constitution Day, we honor and celebrate the cornerstone of our government. The Constitution is the most important document in the United States. It's the basis of our government and provides us with our rights. On this Constitution Day, Scholastic News talks with constitutional expert and the first female Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O'Connor. As a Supreme Court Justice from 1981 through 2006, O'Connor decided with laws or decisions made by other courts were constitutional. Sometimes, laws are passed or decisions are made that some people think violate the Constitution. When that happens, cases are brought before the nine members of the Supreme Court. This process is called "checks and balances," and is an important part of the Constitution. Once you've read the interview with Sandra Day O'Connor, read more about the Constitution and the views of other constitutional experts and play the Constitution Game in the Constitution Day Special Report!

Scholastic News: What was your favorite subject in school?

Sandra Day O'Connor: That's so hard to say. It's been such a long time since I was in school. I think probably history. What's your favorite subject?

SN: History also.

O'Connor: How about that! Except I went to school in El Paso, Texas, and every single year I was there from kindergarten

© COPYRIGHT NOTICE: This Speech / Interview / Article by Justice O'Connor constitutes copyrighted material. The excerpt above is provided here for research purposes only under the terms of fair use (17 U.S.C. § 107). To view the complete original, please visit Web.archive.org.