First female Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is battling dementia. The retired justice released a statement today through the Supreme Court stating the disease is in its early stages, but she will be withdrawing from public life. The 88-year-old was nominated back in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan. Prior to being appointed, she was a judge and state lawmaker in Arizona. O'Connor was believed to be a key swing vote in the high court before retiring in 2006.
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