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Which two Justices dated before being on Court together?

Published in Supreme Court History 2 mins read

The two Justices who dated before serving together on the Supreme Court were Sandra Day O'Connor and William H. Rehnquist.

A Shared Past Before the Court

Before they became colleagues on the highest court in the United States, Sandra Day O'Connor and William Rehnquist shared a romantic relationship during their time as law students at Stanford University in the early 1950s. This period of their lives, long before their distinguished judicial careers, saw a connection between two brilliant legal minds. Their relationship was a significant, albeit brief, chapter in their personal histories.

During their Stanford Law School days, Rehnquist even proposed marriage to Sandra Day, but she declined. Subsequently, Sandra Day went on to marry John O'Connor in 1952, becoming Sandra Day O'Connor. Rehnquist, for his part, married Nan Cornell in 1953 after Sandra declined his proposal.

Their Judicial Careers and Shared Time on the Bench

Both O'Connor and Rehnquist went on to achieve remarkable careers in law and public service.

  • Sandra Day O'Connor was appointed as an Associate Justice to the Supreme Court by President Ronald Reagan in 1981, becoming the first woman to serve on the Court.
  • William H. Rehnquist had been appointed as an Associate Justice in 1972 by President Richard Nixon. He was later elevated to the position of Chief Justice of the United States by President Ronald Reagan in 1986.

They served together on the Supreme Court for nearly two decades, from 1981 (when O'Connor joined) until O'Connor's retirement in 2006. Rehnquist served as Chief Justice for much of that period. Their unique shared history as former romantic partners who became powerful colleagues on the nation's highest judicial body remains a notable anecdote in Supreme Court lore.

Key Facts About O'Connor and Rehnquist's Relationship and Service

Aspect Sandra Day O'Connor William H. Rehnquist
Relationship Period Early 1950s (during Stanford Law School) Early 1950s (during Stanford Law School)
Law School Stanford University Stanford University
Supreme Court Service 1981 – 2006 (Associate Justice) 1972 – 2005 (Associate Justice, then Chief Justice from 1986)
Shared Time on Court 1981 – 2005 (24 years) 1981 – 2005 (24 years)
Noteworthy First female Justice Chief Justice of the United States (1986-2005)