Judge O’Connor, officials meet at White House

WASHINGTON – Judge Sandra O’Connor went directly to the White House on Monday after arriving in Washington for a series of crucial meetings on her nomination to become the first woman on the Supreme Court. Judge O’Connor was met at Washington National Airport by Attorney General William French Smith and driven to the White House. A spokesman called the Monday gathering a “preliminary, get-to-know-you” session. It involved Smith and members of the president’s congressional liaison staff. She was to begin a round of meetings with Justice Department officials and key members of the Senate this morning and will meet with the president Wednesday. Judge O’Connor, a member of the Arizona Court of Appeals, has been attacked for her record on abortion and for support of the Equal Rights Amendment. But Sen. Barry Goldwater, R-Ariz. – her leading backer – issued a statement Monday that lauded the 51- year-old judge for having the “basic conservative philosophy” needed on the high court. Judge O’Connor told reporters at the airport that she hopes to end the controversy surrounding her selection. As she has in the past, the judge declined to discuss the substance I of questions raised about her nomination. White House spokesman Larry Speakes said that after the morning meeting today, Judge O’Connor will go to Capitol Hill to confer with her home-state senators – Goldwater and Democrat Dennis DeConcini. In his statement Monday, Goldwater said she is tough on criminals, a strong defender of