She was appointed by President Ronald Reagan on July 7, 1981, and served until January 31, 2006.
During her time on the Court, O'Connor was known for her pragmatism, her commitment to the rule of law, and her willingness to work with justices of both liberal and conservative persuasions.
She authored many important opinions, including the majority opinion in the case of Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which upheld the core principles of Roe v. Wade while allowing states to impose some restrictions on abortion.
O'Connor was also the swing vote in several other important cases, including the case of Bush v. Gore, which effectively decided the 2000 presidential election.
Her opinions were often the deciding factor in cases that were closely divided between the Court's liberal and conservative justices.
O'Connor's appointment to the Supreme Court was a major breakthrough for women in the legal profession. She has been a role model for many women who have followed in her footsteps.