Annual Timeline

1981

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor

In 1981, then-Judge O'Connor was serving on the Arizona Court of Appeals until, on September 25, she became the first woman Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Kauffman-Henry Collection at the O'Connor Institute comprises hundreds of media clippings from Justice O'Connor's nomination and confirmation to the Supreme Court in 1981, including newspaper articles and political cartoons.

Calendar year 1981 included the U.S. Supreme Court terms 1980 and 1981.

Justice O'Connor wrote 18 appellate court opinions, 1 Supreme Court opinion and gave 3 speeches or interviews during the year.

 June

 

Law review article

Trends in the Relationship Between the Federal and State Courts from the Perspective of a State Court Judge

4

Appellate Court Opinion

Miller v. Arnal Corp.

16

Appellate Court Opinion

Western Cas. And Sur. Co. v. International Spas of Arizona, Inc.

23

Appellate Court Opinion

Hunter v. Industrial Commission of Arizona

25

Appellate Court Opinion

Franco v. Industrial Commission of Arizona

 August

19

Event

President Reagan sends O'Connor nomination to the U.S. Senate

 September

1

Appellate Court Opinion

Bloom v. Fry's Food Stores, Inc.

9

Event

U.S. Senate confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nomination begin

9

Testimony

Confirmation hearings in the United States Senate on Justice O'Connor's nomination to the Supreme Court

11

Event

U.S. Senate confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nomination end

21

Event

U.S. Senate votes 99-0 to confirm Justice O'Connor to the Supreme Court

24

Appellate Court Opinion

St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center v. Maricopa County

25

Event

Sworn in as Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court