If roles were reversed

Judging from her performance during the Senate confirmation hearings, Judge Sandra Day O’Connor – about to become Justice O’Connor – will bring to the U.S. Supreme Court not only the valuable perspective of a woman, but a brilliant scholar with remarkable recall. During the questioning by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Judge O’Connor rather routinely cited pertinent cases, reviewed legal arguments and the court’s conclusions, then offered cautious discussions of her viewpoints, careful always not to compromise her Supreme Court duties by prejudicial disclosures that would disqualify her from considering matters before the court. Members of the committee have had ample time to research their questions – although some member s seemed more interested in making points for the tele vision audience than in probing the nominee’s qualifications – but Judge O’Connor had to respond spontaneously, based on necessarily limited preparation for anticipated questions. By her thorough and analytical re- sponse to questions ran ging from profound to pathetic, Judge O’Connor offered some indication that she may come to be regarded as one of the court’s better justices, in addition to the inevitable distinction of being the first woman on the court. An amusing thought occurs. One wonders if the hearings would have lasted much beyond the ceremonial beginnings if Judge O’Connor had been asking the questions instead of answering them. Moreover, not many members of the committee would have