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Honor Guard Collapses to Ground in Front of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's Casket

 By Randy DeSoto  December 18, 2023 at 12:30pm
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An officer serving as part of the honor guard for the casket of former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor at the Supreme Court in Washington collapsed Monday.

O’Connor’s body was lying in repose at the high court following her death on Dec. 1 at 93.

The officer apparently was a member of the Supreme Court’s police force.

A livestream of the incident showed the officer getting wobbly and receiving assistance from a colleague before falling to the floor.



No information about the officer’s status was available early Monday afternoon.

Standing at attention for a long time can cause fainting, as can dehydration, according to the University of Arkansas Medical Services.

O’Connor’s body was to lie in repose from 10:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Monday, The Washington Post reported.

There will be an invitation-only funeral at the National Cathedral in Washington on Tuesday.

The Hill reported that all nine current members of the court, along with retired Justice Anthony Kennedy, attended a private service for O’Connor at the Supreme Court.

Appointed by then-President Ronald Reagan in 1981, she was the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court.

The Senate approved the Arizona native’s nomination by a vote of 99-0, according to The Associated Press.

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O’Connor authored many prominent opinions during her time on the court, but the 5-4 Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision in 1992 might be the one for which she will be most remembered.

In it, the court upheld the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling but affirmed the right of states to place restrictions on abortions, such as a 24-hour waiting period and parental notification.

O’Connor served on the high court from 1981 until her retirement in 2006.

Justice Samuel Alito, a George W. Bush nominee, replaced O’Connor on the court.

Alito would go on to write the majority opinion in the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson’s Women’s Health Organization decision, which overturned Roe and returned the issue of abortion policy to the states.

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Randy DeSoto
Contributing Journalist
Randy DeSoto has written more than 3,000 articles for The Western Journal since he began with the company in 2015. He is a graduate of West Point and Regent University School of Law. He is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths" and screenwriter of the political documentary "I Want Your Money."
Randy DeSoto wrote and was the assistant producer of the documentary film "I Want Your Money" about the perils of Big Government, comparing the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. Randy is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths," which addresses how leaders have appealed to beliefs found in the Declaration of Independence at defining moments in our nation's history. He has been published in several political sites and newspapers.

Randy graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a BS in political science and Regent University School of Law with a juris doctorate.
Birthplace
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Nationality
American
Honors/Awards
Graduated dean's list from West Point
Education
United States Military Academy at West Point, Regent University School of Law
Books Written
We Hold These Truths
Professional Memberships
Virginia and Pennsylvania state bars
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Politics, Entertainment, Faith




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