Justice o'connor stepped up to the microphone to *** standing ovation and told the audience of mostly Drake law students that in this day and age, the Supreme Court must act ever more forcefully in curbing governmental powers as government has become larger and more active. It's opportunities to cross the line and violate constitutional rights have increased as well. This from *** moderate judge in the high court coming at *** time when critics say the court is too willing to change the law that's known as judicial activism. But o'connor did acknowledge those critics as crucial components of the system as well as admitting the court has made mistakes. Judges are not infallible. We do sometimes make bad decisions. But aside from learning justice o'connor's opinions on judicial activism, many people were most impressed by her humble beginnings. Growing up on an Arizona ranch, she learned to drive *** car by the time she was seven and can rope and brand *** heifer by the time she was 10, all of which makes o'connor seem more like *** role model and less like *** lofty Supreme court justice. It was really interesting aspiring and you think um I could do that some day or hopefully I could at least reach for something like that. O'connor. Accepted gifts of *** poster and also *** silver bowl from the law school tokens of thanks from the people who study the law to *** key figure who makes it Martin Augustine TV Eight News. Does it tell me something somewhere?