Judge O’Connor opposes busing as disruptive to pupils

WASHINGTON – Judge Sandra O’Connor of Phoenix, on the verge of becoming the first woman justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday that busing of children to achieve racial balance in schools disrupts their education. Judge O’Connor, in her second day of testimony before the 18-member committee, also said she supports the death penalty and feels women in the military should not be assigned to battlefield duty. The committee’s hearings on President Reagan’s nomination of Judge O’Connor to the high court are expected to conclude today. Committee Chairman Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., has predicted her swift, overwhelming confirmation by his panel and by the full Senate.

The judge and former Arizona state senator has testified for more than eight hours before the committee. She is expected to return briefly today for further questioning by Sen .Jeremiah Denton, R-Ala., who was unable to attend Thursday’s afternoon session.

Throughout the hearing, Judge O’Connor has side-stepped attempts by senators to elicit comments on various Supreme Court rulings, notably the 1973 decision upholding the right of women to seek elective abortions.

She did, however, express her “personal views” on a number of issues, couching her answers each time by saying she would not let her private opinions influence her deliberations on cases before the high court.

In response to questions from Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, she said busing of schoolchildren, ordered by