First Woman On the Court

AS THE 105TH member of the United States Supreme Court in its almost two centuries of existence, Mrs. Sandra O’Connor will make history simply by taking the oath of office after her anticipated Senate confirmation. Admission of the first woman to that most exclusive of all men’s clubs is a notable and important event. The surprising development to us is, however, not that President Reagan has appointed the first woman member of the court. but that it seemed such a logical, practical and predictable thing to do. No one fell off a chair. We could be mistaken in assessing initial responses, but our observation is that the nation simply believed that appointing a woman was a proper response to a vacancy on the court. The nation has made its acceptance without reluctance or amazement, save in very few special-interest quarters. President Reagan -has thus shown once again, his native ability to read the popular mood and to act upon it. Not too many years ago, the idea of a woman sitting on the high court – or on any court – might have been regarded not just as anathema but as blasphemy. * * * THAT THE NATION is so relaxed if not to say receptive, to the O’Connor appointment is testimony to the status women have achieved before the bar in recent decades. And, we might add, tribute to the legal profession’s acceptance of thousands of new women colleagues. In Mrs. O’Connor, the president has found a nominee of good schooling with high academic honor in, that schooling, a well-rounded