It isn't a new school. Arizona State University has announced that it has renamed the law school using the name of retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, "in honor of her lifelong dedication to public service, her intellectual vigor and her sense of fair-mindedness."

ASU President Michael M. Crow announced, "We are establishing a permanent and living tribute to Justice O’Connor, one that will honor a native daughter who has provided extraordinary service to her state and country. This will be a living tribute, because it will continue over generations of students. Justice O’Connor is a quintessential Arizonan, and we want to celebrate that."

In an era of sponsors, and bequests, and donations that often lead to having a building named after someone or something, it is interesting to note that this is not the case here. According to Patricia White, dean of ASU’s College of Law, "We believe this is the first major law school in the country to be named after a living person solely on the basis of merit. We are choosing to honor Justice O’Connor, and in so doing we honor ourselves...."

Bio of Sandra Day O'Connor
ASU Links of Interest

_{About the photo: Provided courtesy of The White House. President George W. Bush and Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor share a moment backstage March 3, 2005, prior to the swearing-in ceremonies for Michael Chertoff as secretary of Homeland Security. In response to the Justice’s resignation, President Bush called her one of the most admired women of her time and said he was proud to know her. File photo. White House photo by Paul Morse.}