United States Supreme Court Justice O'Connor to retire
{{date|July 1, 2005}}
[[Image:George W. Bush speaks to Sandra O'Connor on phone.jpg|thumb|150px|right|President [[George W. Bush]] speaks via phone to Associate Supreme Court Justice [[Sandra Day O'Connor|Sandra Day O'Connor]] Friday, July 1, 2005, shortly after she submitted her letter of resignation citing personal reasons. The letter sits on the desk. ''White House photo by Paul Morse.'']]
[[Supreme Court of the United States|United States Supreme Court]] Associate Justice [[Sandra Day O'Connor|Sandra Day O'Connor]], 75, announced Friday her intention to retire from the court. She said she would be stepping down before the beginning of the court's fall term, or when the [[United States Senate|Senate]] confirms a successor.

More than 10 years have passed since the last vacancy on the Supreme Court, the highest court in the [[United States]]. Justice [[Stephen Breyer|Stephen Breyer]] was the last jurist appointed to the court; Breyer was appointed by President [[Bill Clinton]]. This will be President [[George W. Bush|George W. Bush's]] first opportunity to appoint a justice to the court. 

Soon after the retirement was announced, President Bush held a short press-conference outside the White House where he praised O'Connor's years of public service.  O'Connor has served on the court for 24 years, since her appointment by President Reagan in 1981. 

In July 20 2005 President Bush nominated [[John Roberts|John G. Roberts]] as the candidate for the post.

O'Connor was the first female justice, as well as the first from the state of [[Arizona|Arizona]].

== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050701/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_o_connor_2;_ylt=AsrYd8HaQ6TDro8qftwtx31uCM0A;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl
|title=O'Connor to Retire From Supreme Court
|author=[[Associated Press|AP]]
|pub=Yahoo
|date=July 1, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/07/01/1753205
|title=Justice O'Connor Retiring
|author=
|pub=Slashdot.org
|date=July 1, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/01/politics/01cnd-reax.html?hp&ex=1120276800&en=ea080de58e7ae8ec&ei=5094&partner=homepage
|title=Democrats Warn Bush on Choosing Successor to O'Connor
|author=David Stout
|pub=New York Times
|date=July 1, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/07/01/king.oconnor/
|title=John King: White House 'ready to go' on O'Connor replacement
|author=
|pub=CNN
|date=July 1, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/01/AR2005070101218.html
|title=Rehnquist's Future Still in Question
|author=Hope Yen
|pub=Washington Post
|date=July 1, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/earlyed/early_usa070105.htm
|title=Sandra Day O'Connor announces retirement
|author=Warren Richey
|pub=Christian Science Monitor
|date=July 1, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/01/AR2005070101087.html
|title=O'Connor's Path Led to Center of the Court
|author=Fred Barbash
|pub=Washington Post
|date=July 1, 2005}}

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[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:George W. Bush]]
[[Category:Bill Clinton]]
[[Category:John G. Roberts]]
[[Category:US Supreme Court]]
[[Category:Sandra Day O'Connor]]
[[Category:Stephen Breyer]]
President George W. Bush speaks via phone to Associate Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor Friday, July 1, 2005, shortly after she submitted her letter of resignation citing personal reasons. The letter sits on the desk. White House photo by Paul Morse.
United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, 75, announced Friday her intention to retire from the court. She said she would be stepping down before the beginning of the court's fall term, or when the Senate confirms a successor.

More than 10 years have passed since the last vacancy on the Supreme Court, the highest court in the United States. Justice Stephen Breyer was the last jurist appointed to the court; Breyer was appointed by President Bill Clinton. This will be President George W. Bush's first opportunity to appoint a justice to the court. 

Soon after the retirement was announced, President Bush held a short press-conference outside the White House where he praised O'Connor's years of public service.  O'Connor has served on the court for 24 years, since her appointment by President Reagan in 1981. 

In July 20 2005 President Bush nominated John G. Roberts as the candidate for the post.

O'Connor was the first female justice, as well as the first from the state of Arizona.
United States Politics and conflicts George W. Bush Bill Clinton John G. Roberts US Supreme Court Sandra Day O'Connor Stephen Breyer