Sandra Day O’Connor Reveals She has Dementia

The first woman on the Supreme Court, Sandra Day O’Connor, says she has been diagnosed with dementia and is withdrawing from public life. In a statement released by the Supreme Court, Justice O’Connor, 88, said her dementia was probably caused by Alzheimer’s disease. She was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan, who also had Alzheimer’s disease. Since stepping down from the court in 2006, Justice O’Connor’s post-retirement career has “extended her influence from the classroom to the White House.” She said her greatest legacy has been a renewed commitment to civics education.