Retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court, died at the age of 93 due to complications related to advanced dementia and a respiratory illness in Phoenix. O'Connor, appointed by Republican President Ronald Reagan in 1981, served as a crucial swing vote on the court, helping preserve a woman’s right to abortion and upholding affirmative action on college campuses. She was known for her pragmatic and consensus-building approach, and her views on issues such as abortion and gay rights evolved over time.