Sandra Day O'Connor (born March 26, 1930) is an American jurist and was the first female Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. She served as a Supreme Court Justice from 1981 until her retirement from the Court in 2006. O'Connor was appointed by Republican President Ronald Reagan in 1981.

Prior to her appointment to the Supreme Court, she was an elected official and judge in Arizona. On July 1, 2005, she announced her intention to retire effective upon the confirmation of a successor. President George W. Bush nominated Justice Samuel Alito to take her seat in October 2005 and he joined the court on January 31, 2006.

O'Connor is currently the Chancellor of the College of William & Mary, and also currently serves on the board of trustees of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.