Sandra Day O'Connor, First Woman on Supreme Court, Diagnosed With Dementia

Sandra Day O'Connor, the first female Supreme Court justice in U.S. history, has announced she has dementia, reports the Wall Street Journal . "As this condition has progressed, I am no longer able to participate in public life," she stated. "Since many people have asked about my current status and activities, I want to be open about these changes, and while I am still able, share some personal thoughts." O'Connor said Alzheimer's was probably the cause of her dementia. Chief Justice John Roberts made a statement describing O'Connor as "a towering figure in the history of the United States and indeed the world." He also noted that "she serves as a role model not only for girls and women, but for all those committed to equal justice under law."