Clifton Taulbert never dreamed he’d be standing one day in the office of a Supreme Court justice.

Nor did he imagine that once he was there, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor would show him photos of her family, pointing out what each of her sons was doing.

&8220;Obviously I respect her judicial skills,&8221; Taulbert said. &8220;But she’s also a mother, a grandmother, a wife. She’s a tremendous American.&8221;

A connection forged in Natchez is what put the author in O’Connor’s company.

Taulbert was a guest speaker in April 1999 for a group traveling down the Mississippi on the Delta Queen. Sandra Day O’Connor and her husband, John, were part of the group, which was organized by Clarksdale native Rives Neblett. The Bohemian Society, as the group of friends and acquaintences is known, also heard lectures from authors such as Stephen Ambrose, John M. Barry and Shelby Foote, who died just last week.

Taulbert spoke to the group at Melrose, and the next morning he had breakfast with O’Connor and her husband.

Later the justice invited Taulbert and his wife Barbara to visit them in Washington.

After that trip to her office, O’Connor invited the couple to have dinner with her.

&8220;I said to my wife, &8216;Can you believe it? We’re actually having dinner with the first female justice on the Supreme Court,’&8221; Taulbert recalled.

Taulbert’s personal experience with the woman who has garnered such attention not only as the first female justice but also as a key vote in so many rulings tells him that her personal and professional demeanor cannot be separated.

&8220;She has such broad vision, underscored by such goodness and graciousness,&8221; Taulbert said. &8220;But she is also a student of the law. … I don’t think she’s ever removed herself from being one of us.&8221;

Taulbert’s description of O’Connor as his friend &045; her warmth and her affection for her husband, children and grandchildren &045; is matched by her simple press statement about the reason for her retirement: &8220;I am 75, and I want to spend more time with my family.&8221;

O’Connor, who has said she does not think the label of her as the &8220;swing vote&8221; is quite fair, seemed to shift from the right to the middle during her 24 years on the nation’s highest court. She was a key vote on a number of issues, from abortion to affirmative action, sometimes siding with the conservatives and sometimes with the liberals.

For that reason, the choice for her successor will be closely watched &045; and debated &045; for weeks to come.

Taulbert was quick to say that he does not believe O’Connor herself can quite be replaced.

&8220;Her position will be replaced,&8221; Taulbert said. &8220;You never quite know what you are going to get with a nominee.&8221;

And Taulbert has some insight into what may have been O’Connor’s perceived shift toward the middle.

&8220;Once you get the judgeship, you find yourself changing in the process,&8221; he said. &8220;I don’t think you can fathom the weight of the office without being in it. You get there and you realize that justice should truly be blind.&8221;

Taulbert has a phone number for the justice’s office, one he has only used once or twice because he can still barely believe he has it.

But he’ll likely be using it next week to call O’Connor and congratulate her on her retirement.

Kerry Whipple

Bean is editor of The Natchez Democrat. She can be reached at 601-445-3541 or by e-mail at

kerry.bean@natchezdemocrat.com

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