Arizona Judge Named to Supreme Court

WASHINGTON (AP) President Reagan today chose Arizona Judge Sandra D. O’Connor to become the first woman justice in the history of the Supreme Court, calling her “truly a person for all seasons,” and fulfilling a promise he made on the way to the White House. Reagan said he did not name a woman to succeed retiring Justice Potter Stewart “merely to do so,” but because Mrs. O’Connor has the qualities needed on the high court. “She is truly a person for all seasons, possessing tpose unique qualities of temperament, fairness, intellectual capacity and devotion to the public good which had characterized the 101 bretheren who have preceded her,” the president said in his nationally broadcast and televised announcement. “I commend you to her, and I urge the Senate’s swift bipartisan confirmation, so that as soon as possible she may take her seat on the court and her place in history,” Reagan said. Then, at her own news conference in Phoenix, the 51- year-old Mrs. O’Connor pledged to “simply try to do as good a job as I think I can .” She said Reagan had interviewed her last week for 15 minutes and called her at 4 p.m. Monday to tell her of her selection. “This is a momentous day in my life, in the life of my family,” the beaming nominee declared. “I can’t believe it, I still can’t believe it,” Mrs. O’Connor said as she slipped out of the jammed appeals court room in which her news conference was held. Poised but looking a bit weary, Mrs. O’Connor answered only routine questions during