Who was the first woman Supreme Court Justice?

Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman to serve as a Supreme Court Justice, appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981. Her appointment was historic, breaking the gender barrier in one of the highest positions in the United States judiciary. O’Connor’s tenure on the Court lasted until her retirement in 2006, and she played a pivotal role in many landmark rulings that contributed to the expansion of women's rights and various aspects of civil rights law.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor are all notable Justices who came to serve later, but none were the first woman to hold this distinguished position. Their appointments followed O'Connor's, and they built upon the path she paved for women in the legal profession, particularly in such prominent judicial roles.