January 27, 2025

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf receives 10th O’Connor Justice Prize

“I’m honored to have a prize in Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s name. This is one of the best awards I have received in my life,” former Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said as she accepted the award on Jan. 25 at the 10th Annual O’Connor Justice Prize signature event in Scottsdale, Arizona, organized by the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University.

The room fell silent as guests at the dinner listened to Sirleaf discuss her contributions to justice and human rights during a Q&A led by Ana Palacio, OJP Advisory Board member and 2016 OJP recipient. 

Sirleaf has earned recognition for her long list of accomplishments. As a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and the first democratically elected female head of state in Africa, her leadership in transforming Liberia aligns with the values Justice O’Connor upheld throughout her career.

Sirleaf was chosen for the award by an advisory board made up, in part, of Ambassador Barbara Barrett and Justice Ruth McGregor, a former clerk of Justice O’Connor’s who remained her lifelong friend. 

“Through her work, she has championed democratic values, economic development and gender equality,” said ASU Law Willard H. Pedrick Dean and OJP Advisory Board Member Stacy Leeds to the crowd. “Her impact resonates far beyond Liberia’s borders, and her leadership exemplifies the ideals Justice O’Connor worked tirelessly to uphold.”

As Sirleaf reflected on her work, she offered advice to the leaders in the room. “The young people. The responsibility of global leadership will be shifting to them. We have to listen to them,” she said.

To everyone present, Justice O’Connor was a trailblazer who left a mark on the nation’s highest court. Other speakers, including Justice O'Connor's son, Scott, reflected on the legacies of both women. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito noted in his remarks that O’Connor’s 645 opinions continue to shape the work of the Court. Others remembered her lifelong commitment to public service and her profound impact on the nation’s legal history.

For Scott, however, O’Connor was simply “mom.” He shared poignant memories from her funeral, many of which he noted will remain forever ingrained in his mind. The first anniversary of O’Connor’s death was Dec. 1.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the O’Connor Justice Prize, making Sirleaf’s recognition especially significant. As the 10th recipient, Sirleaf’s lifelong dedication to justice, human rights and Liberia’s peaceful transformation makes her the perfect choice to honor the legacy of Justice O’Connor. 

The O’Connor Justice Prize was established in 2014 to reward extraordinary people working to advance justice and uphold human rights worldwide. Past recipients include U.S. President Jimmy Carter, South African President FW De Klerk and last year’s winner Rangina Hamidi, Afghanistan’s former education minister.

 

 

Written by Crystal Jimenez