Judge O’Connor calls on Capitol leaders; O’Connor

Legislators are predicting easy sailing for nominee New York Tim es WASHINGTON – Sandra O’Connor, President Reagan’s choice to sit on the Supreme Court, sat between Sens. Howard Baker and Robert Byrd on Tuesday afternoon and immediately scored a political point. “Senator Byrd,” Judge O’Connor said, addressing the minority leader, a man who considers himself an authority on the Senate, “tell me a little about the history of this great institution.” Baker, the majority leader, broke into laughter, saying, “Judge, you don’t know what you’ve just asked!” Byrd just smiled. Then he congratu – lated Judge O’Connor, not on her nomination to the Supreme Court but on her confirmation by the Senate, “which I feel will be forthcoming.” . In her first afternoon on Capitol Hill, “‘ Judge O’Connor, who if confirmed would be the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court, proved particularly adept at a peculiar Washington ritual: the courtesy call. This is the custom that requires nominees of the executive and judicial branches to travel to Capitol Hill to woo members of the legislative branch, particularly those who sit on pertinent committees. It is a time for smiles and handshakes, not for substantive discussions.

“It’s going just fine, thank you,” said Judge O’Connor of the Arizona Court of Appeals as she breezed down a Capitol hallway, her heels clicking on the marble floor. On her right was William French Smith, the attorney general. On her left was Baker.

Accompanied by a mob of