O’Connor confirmation by Senate likely Friday

WASHINGTON (AP ) – Sandra Day O’Connor , pas sing the first test with no one against her, is just one vote away from taking her plac e among eight men on the Supreme Court . That should be out of the way by the end of the week . The Senat e Judicia r y Committee recomm ended Tuesday that the full Senate confi rm the 51-ye ar -old Arizona appeals court judge to succeed retired Justice Pott er Stewart. The vote was 17-0, with one lead ing anti- abortion senator supportin g Mrs. O’Connor and another abstaining. Sen . Strom Thurmond , RS. C., th e com m itt ee chair man, sai d he would attempt to schedule the final vote in th e Se nate for Frid ay, allowing her to be sworn in Sept. 25 in time for th e court ‘s fall se ssion starting Oct. 5. The onl y committ ee member who didn’t vote for Mrs. O’Connor was Alaba ma Rep ubli ca n J ere m iah Denton. He voted ” present,” saying he did not know enough about her views on abortion or other “great lega l issues of the day” to either support or oppose her . “I appreciate his point of view,” Mrs . O’Connor said after wa rd . Aides to Denton said he has not yet decided if he will cast an identic al vote when the nominatien comes to the Senate floor. If Denton votes yes, Mrs . O’Connor ‘ s confirmation could be unanim ous . Tuesday’ s committee vote reflected Mrs. O’Connor’ s support from conservative s and liberals alike . .