Attorney praises quick mind, record of Judge O’Connor

Discussion about the nomination of Sandra O’Connor to the U.S. Supreme Court will go on for years and, for a time, it will center on her sex – simply because she was the first woman named to the court. If she is confirmed, conclusive insight on her tenure may _have to wait for historians who are given the luxury of hindsight rather than the risk of foresight. Phoenix attorney John P. Frank, a Democrat, is a nationally recognized scholar on the Supreme Court and lias written and spoken extensively on its history. Shortly after the announcement of Judge O’Connor’s nomination July 7, the following interview was taped at Frank’s office: Question: What, in your opinion, are Judge O’Connor’s strengths and weaknesses? Answer: An extraordinary brightness of the intellect, an incredible capacity for hard work and a very great thoroughness. As with all of us, her strengths are the flip side of her weaknesses. The extreme care with which she comes to her conclusions makes her somewhat inelastic after she has reac.,hed them. The brightness and quickness of her mind also means that she has in it the element that she will not suffer fools gladly. An appellate bench is the ideal place for this composite of talents and limitations because she won’t have to suffer many fools for very long Q: Is Judge O’Connor truly a “distinguished jurist” as some have , called her? : A: Judge O’Connor is qualified for ,this position. The president wanted to keep his promise to put a woman on the Supreme