The Supreme Court Justice talks about her new interactive web site “Our Courts” and other timely topics

Sandra Day O’Connor may have officially retired from her esteemed 25-year career as Supreme Court Justice in 2006, but she is still “working” for the courts and our government. Motivated by research she describes as “disheartening” that shows that “only a third of the public can even name the three branches of government... yet two-thirds of Americans can name one of the judges from American Idol,” she has taken her crusade to the web, creating a new website, Our Courts ,” designed to teach students civics and inspire them to be active participants in our democracy.”

The Our Courts site offers a wide diversity of resources, including lesson plans and curriculum ideas for teachers to help create a deeper understanding of American government in schools, and interactive features for students such as “Civics in Action” and “Ask the Justice,” and a series of online games that she helped design will be launched this summer. At 78, O’Connor is still forward thinking and embracing the latest cutting edge technology, excited by its great potential to educate and empower. I recently had the opportunity to interview the inspirational former Supreme Court Justice about her new web site and other timely topics of the day.

Marianne Schnall: Was there any one observation of our society that motivated you to create the Our Courts web site?

Sandra Day O’Connor: Two observations compelled