Justice O'Connor talks about the strength of civil discourse and compromise

Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, announced in a statement this week that she is stepping away from public engagements. The native Arizonan will be missed but her many years as a lawyer, lawmaker, jurist and national leader will withstand the throes of time as her plain-speak wisdom continues to call for our better selves to step up as united Americans to build a better nation.

Justice O'Connor was the keynote speaker at Morrison Institute for Public Policy's inaugural State of Our State Conference in 2009. Her words ring as true today as they did back then, with her citing the ability of historic Arizona leaders to put partisan politics behind them to accomplish great deeds, such as building the Central Arizona Project and protecting the state's natural beauty.

"Those leaders understood that no lasting action comes without cooperation, collaboration and in some cases compromise," she told the audience at the annual signature event. "Compromise does not have to be seen as a weak word; it can be a strong commitment to moving forward instead of standing still or, worse yet, going in opposite directions.

"At times, we have to give up some of our individual interests so we don't compromise our collective future," she said. The resulting "common ground" should be treated as "some kind of sacred ground, because that's where we're going to find the promised land, and I think our state expects, deserves and requires nothing less."

Justice O'Connor, a longtime friend and supporter of Morrison Institute, has our sincere thanks and best wishes.

Watch: Video: Justice O'Connor talks about the strength of civil discourse and compromise