Women of Gentry Locke Hear Justice O'Connor
Date: 09/18/2009
A women's leadership luncheon celebrating an honorary degree conferment on former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was held at Roanoke College at the Wortmann Ballroom, Colket Center on September 17, 2009. In attendance were eleven women from Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore and one student extern from Washington and Lee University School of Law.
l. to r.: Monica Monday, Appellate group Chair; attorneys Christen Church, Macel Janoschka, and Kathy Wright; recent law school graduate Sherita Simpson; attorneys Brooke Rosen, Lindsey Waters, Eunice Austin, and Lauren Davis; W&L Law School extern Jennifer Langley; recent law school graduate Heather Willis; and attorney Leigh Strelka.
Justice O'Connor was introduced as one of the most influential women in U.S. legal history. O'Connor had been unanimously confirmed by the Senate prior to being seated as a Supreme Court Justice, and was recently awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Obama in August of 2009. At the luncheon, O'Connor was presented with an honorary degree of doctor of laws from Roanoke College. After the degree was conferred, Justice O'Connor made a few remarks. Following is a summary of O'Connor's remarks, according to Gentry Locke attorney Leigh Strelka.
The first part of Justice O'Connor's speech revolved around leadership. O'Connor said statistics show that only 5% of any population has leadership qualities. However, O'Connor stated that she felt everyone will be a leader at some point, and that one concerned dedicated person can meaningfully affect the world.
The latter part of her speech had to do with the status of women in America. O'Connor noted that women are still the primary caregivers, but many also work outside the home. The process of achieving gender equality is still ongoing, as evidenced by some of her own past experiences. In the 1950's when she was getting started and raising her family, things were completely different. An example she gave was that 50% or more of current law students and graduates are females -- quite different from when she went to law school at Stanford. She stated that is due to the "efforts of real women and the insights of real men." O'Connor said the courts are slow, and the major advancements for women have been from the legislature. She suggested that women need to stay active to shape public policies that affect them and that a visible presence of many women in significant positions can affect other women and also those policies. She also stated that one mark of how far a society has advanced is evidenced by how it treats its women.
Comments from the women of Gentry Locke attending reflected the inspirational effect of O'Connor's words:
- It was very insightful and eye-opening, especially to hear that she took her role as a mother so seriously and was still able to accomplish so much in her career. (Attorney Lauren Davis)
- The ceremony was short but filled with great examples of why Justice O'Conner is so important to this country...I found myself completely engaged and caught up in her words and story. I am very glad I was invited to this event, and grateful my position in the firm gives me these opportunities. (Future attorney Heather Willis)
In an article on his Appellate blog De Novo, Gentry Locke attorney Jay O'Keeffe called O'Connor "As stately, funny, and fearless as ever." O'Connor's visit was also covered in an article in The Roanoke Times (link provided below).
Related Outside link:Roanoke Times article on O'Connor's visit