Victoria Mars, Chairman of Salzburg Global’s Board of Directors, pays tribute to Sandra Day O’Connor following her death aged 93

At the beginning of this month, we learned the sad news that Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to sit on the US Supreme Court, died aged 93.

Justice O’Connor was a longstanding Salzburg Global Fellow, friend, and supporter. She was also an inspiration to many, including me.

I had the honor of knowing Justice O’Connor when I was a young woman at the beginning of my career and adult life. In 1983, my mother invited her to spend some time with us at our home in Austria right after she participated in what I now know was her first Salzburg Global program: American Law and Legal Institutions.

I can remember sitting on our patio, listening to the two of them discussing relevant issues, chiming in with “youthful” comments and questions. Looking back, I realize that her presence was a role model that would subtly influence my own attitude towards my career and perspectives on how to address issues.

She had the courage to enter a world dominated by men, hoping that she would be the first but not the last female Supreme Court Justice. She approached issues, considering the impact that her opinions and decisions would have on all, not just on those who aligned with her own values. She led the way for so many of us looking for guidance on how to manage life and our careers.

Justice O’Connor returned to Schloss Leopoldskron in 1992 for "Transnational Law and Legal Institutions." During this program, she delivered the opening lecture on "The American Federal System." She also dedicated time to discussing the outcome of Planned Parenthood v. Casey, a US Supreme Court case that decided on a woman's right to abortion.

Justice O'Connor continued to attend Salzburg Global programs and events in the 2000s and became a member of the advisory board of the Lloyd N. Cutler Center for the Rule of Law. In 2012, she hosted the third Cutler Lecture at the US Supreme Court.

Salzburg Global was founded as a forum for post-war dialogue and reconciliation. For more than 76 years, its programs have sought to bridge divides, advance movements for change, and create a positive impact on individuals, institutions, and systems. We’re grateful for the role Justice O’Connor has played in our history, the contributions she has made to Salzburg Global’s programs, and the positive impact she’s had on other Fellows.

Our thoughts remain with Justice O'Connor's family and friends.

For more information on Justice O’Connor’s visit to Salzburg Global in 1992, please read Tim Ryback’s vignette on Fellows Hall written for our 75th anniversary.