Judge O’Connor Confirmed

Senate votes 99-0 for woman on high court WASHINGTON (AP) -The Senate, ending an all-male tradition nearly two centuries old, unanimously confirmed Sandra Day O’Connor as a justice of the Supreme Court Monday. Judge O’Connor, a 51-year-old Arizona state appeals judge, will be sworn in Friday in time to join the court for the opening of its 1981-82 term Oct. 5. The vote was 99-0, with only Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., who was attending an economic conference in his home state, missing. He had supported Judge O’Connor in earlier committee action. AFTER THE VOTE, Judge O’Connor appeared on the steps of the Capitol with Senate leaders and Vice President George Bush. Grinning jubilantly, she said, “My hope is that after I’ve been across the street and worked for a while that they’ll all feel glad for the wonderful vote they gave me today.” “Today is truly a historic occasion,” said Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, leading off a series of 22 pre-vote speeches in warm praise of President Reagan’s first high court nominee. Hailing a “happy and historic day,” President Reagan said in a statement the confirmation of his nominee “symbolizes the richness of opportunity that still abides in America – opportunity that permits persons of any sex, age or race, from every section and walk of life, to aspire and achieve in a manner never before even dreamed about in human history.” AS THE VOTE neared, a small knot of conservatives who had questioned Judge