The first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court is battling dementia. Retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor released a statement through the Supreme Court and noted that the disease is in its early stages.
Nonetheless, she is withdrawing from public life.
The 88-year old O'Connor was nominated by President Ronald Reagan in 1981. Prior to her appointment, O'Connor was a judge and state lawmaker in Arizona.
O'Connor was seen as a key swing vote on the high court before her retirement in 2006.