Justice O’Connor to be honored at ceremonies, luncheon, dinner

Supreme Court Justice Sandra O’Connor will be the guest at the state Capitol today in a day designated by Gov. Bruce Babbitt to honor her. Justice O’Connor, the first female justice, will attend a welcoming ceremony on the Capitol grounds, a luncheon and a black-tie dinner. Mayor Margaret Hance will be host for the luncheon, and Babbitt will have the same role at the dinner, which will be telecast live on Channel 8 beginning at 9 p.m. Babbitt, Arizona Chief Justice Fred Struckmeyer Jr. and legislators will greet .Justice O’Connor at a ceremony at 9:30 a.m. on the Capitol mall. Babbitt will present a proclamation to the former state senator and Arizona Court of Appeals judge naming today Sandra O’Connor Day. At noon, representatives of the Maricopa County Bar Association, Junior League, National Conference of Christian and Jews and the Soroptimist Club of Phoenix will deliver brief remarks at a luncheon at the Lath House in Heritage Square. Justice O’Connor, the 102nd Supreme Court justice, also will speak, according to the mayor’s office. About 400 people are expected to attend the luncheon, she said. The $50-a-plate dinner at the Arizona Biltmore will be preceded by a reception at 6:30 p.m. About 850 guests are expected to attend, the governor’s office reported.