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The president applauded O’Connor for “the sacred explanation for democracy she devoted her life to,” calling it “one which we should proceed.”
O’Connor grew to become the primary girl to serve on the Supreme Court docket after she was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981. At her Senate affirmation listening to, Biden — who was the rating member on the Senate Judiciary Committee on the time — shortly voiced his help for her. She went on to function a vital swing vote on the court docket till she stepped down in 2006 to spend extra time together with her husband, who was affected by the early phases of Alzheimer’s. O’Connor died on Dec. 1 on the age of 93 of issues from dementia.
Addressing O’Connor’s household, Biden stated he understood how onerous it was to look at each O’Connor and her husband, John, who died in 2009, battle with illness. Biden noticed his personal son, Beau, battle mind most cancers earlier than his demise in 2015.
“I hope you maintain on to what has by no means actually misplaced: The love each of them had for you; a love you had for them,” Biden stated.
“I hope you discover consolation and one other profound consequence of her service: The numerous households that she helped by talking so brazenly about your loved ones’s experiences,” Biden continued, referring to O’Connor’s candidness about her husband’s sickness.
All 9 present Supreme Court docket justices and a number of other of their spouses, together with retired Justice Anthony Kennedy, filed into the cathedral shortly earlier than the service started. They took seats immediately behind the O’Connor household and throughout the aisle from Biden.
A number of of the justices chatted amiably as organ music boomed by means of the huge church earlier than the funeral obtained underway.
A lot of O’Connor’s clerks additionally sat within the pews, after serving as pallbearers Monday when the late justice lay in repose for a public viewing on the excessive court docket. By custom, a rotating sequence of former clerks additionally flanked her casket for hours as mourners filed by to pay their respects.
Along with Biden, O’Connor was eulogized Tuesday by historian and biographer Evan Thomas, Chief Justice John Roberts and one in all her sons, Jay O’Connor.
“In practically 1 / 4 century on the court docket, she was a robust, influential and iconic jurist,” Roberts stated. “The time when ladies weren’t on the bench appears so far-off as a result of Justice O’Connor was so good when she was on the bench. She was so profitable that the obstacles she broke down are nearly unthinkable at this time.”
Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff paid respects to O’Connor throughout her mendacity in repose on the Supreme Court docket on Monday. In an announcement following O’Connor’s demise, Harris stated she would bear in mind the justice for her “kindness, intelligence, and deep love for our nation.”
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