O’Connor Back at Court After Surgery

As she had promised, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was back on the bench when the Supreme Court met Monday, just 10 days after having breast surgery. The nine justices heard arguments in four cases, one of which is a major test of the law regarding sex discrimination in the workplace, and O’Connor participated in all the debates.

When O’Connor underwent the operation at Georgetown University Hospital on Oct. 21, she issued a statement predicting she would have a quick and “total recovery.” No details of the surgery or subsequent treatment were disclosed, but Toni House, a court spokesman, said the justice took work with her to the hospital and had briefs delivered to her during her five-day stay. When the justices met in closed session Friday to decide which of the pending cases they would hear or reject for this term, O’Connor reportedly voted by proxy on all of them.