O’Connor: Leanings won’t affect decision

WASHINGTON – Sandra O’Connor testified Wednesday that her leanings against abortion would not affect her decisions on the U.S. Supreme Court. “My personal views and beliefs in this area and in other areas have no place in the resolution of any legal issues that will come before the court,” the 51-year-old Paradise Valley resident told the Senate Judiciary Committee. “I think these are matters that of necessity a judge must attempt to set aside in resolving the cases to come before the court.” Cheerfully answering questions from most senators and cautiously dodging touchy questions from a few, she sailed calmly through the first day of hearings on her nomination by President Reagan to be the first woman on the nation’s highest court. Confirmation by the fuil Senate of the Arizona Court of Appeals judge, who received overwhelming support from Arizona’s congressional delegation and the Legislature, including pro-choice and pro-life activists, is expected as early as next Tuesday. From 50 to 250 anti-abortion and fundamentalist Christian pickets opposed to her nomination clustered sporadically outside the Dirksen Senate Building. Lines of people eager to see history in the making waited in the hall for a chance to sit for a few minutes in the few spectator seats not reserved for personal guests of the senators. O’Connor, who had practiced her answers for long hours with White House and Justice Department employees, repeatedly rebuffed attempts by conservative senators to get her