Welcome to the documentary from the BBC World Service. I'm Stephen Sacker, host of the BBC's Hard Talk podcast with in-depth hard-hitting interviews with newsmaking personalities. We've put together a special edition of

hard talk remembering some of the guests who died in 2023. All of them left an

indelible mark on public life and all in their different ways relished the opportunity that hard talk gave them to discuss their decision-making and motivation. So let's start with Sandra Day O'Connor who made

history as the first woman to be appointed as a justice of the Supreme Court in

the United States.

She was nominated by President Ronald Reagan.

She was a conservative, but her instincts were pragmatic rather than deeply ideological.

During her 25 years on the court, hers was often a hugely

influential swing vote. Back in 1973, the court had effectively legalized abortion across the US with its Roe versus

Wade decision. Sandra de O'Connor had to decide whether to uphold that decision. I spoke to her about it in 2006 just after she retired.

We've had a number of cases dealing with state regulation of abortion,

the court has had to wrestle with them through the years,

and I've had to do the same thing.

By and large, the court has allowed states to regulate abortion within some limits and it's where you draw that line that has caused a great deal of public discussion.

I believe one of your own opinions on this in 1992.

Planned Parenthood versus Casey.

Made it plain that there could not be undue burdens placed on the right of a woman.

That was the test we adopted.

You happy with that today?

I don't think anybody in this country is happy with the resolution of questions dealing

with abortion. It's been a very, very divisive

issue.

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