Sandra Day O’Connor reads to students at Columbia Elementary School

Students at Columbia Elementary School in Annandale had a special visitor April 16: Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor read a book she authored, titled Chico, to first and second-graders. The book is about the pony she grew up with while living on a ranch in Arizona.

O’Connor, the first woman on the Supreme Court, also spoke with older students about her experiences on the Court and her early life on the ranch.

The visit was organized in honor of Law Day. Congress designated May 1 as Law Day in 1961 to celebrate the nation’s commitment to the rule of law. The 2012 Law Day theme is “No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom,” which highlights the importance of the courts and their role in ensuring access to justice for all Americans.

After leaving the Court in 2006, O’Connor has focused on civics education. In 2009, she founded iCivics, a free online education program that uses video games to teach students about the nation’s Democratic system of governance and encourage them to take part in civic activities.