Officials Hail O’Connor Nomination

U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater found out Arizona Appeals Court Judge Sandra O’Connor had been chosen for the U.S. Supreme Court when President Reagan called the senator’s airborne plane this morning. “I think the president has taken a great step,” Goldwater later told his Washington staff which also contacted the senator during his Washington to El Paso flight. “The president could find literally hundreds of qualified women attorneys and jurists in this country, but I douf>t that he could ever find one more qualified to occupy a seat on the United States Supreme Court than Sandra O’Connor, whom I have known for years and greatly respect and admire,” the senator said. Goldwater, R-Ariz., met Monday night with Reagan to again urge the appointment and had been one of Judge O’Connor’s earliest endorsers for the appointment. Goldwater’s support today set the pace for other Arizonans when they heard the news. Gov. Bruce Babbitt, who appointed Judge O’Connor to the appeals court, said, “I am confident that Sandra O’Connor will distinguish herself as a member of the Supreme Court. President Reagan is to be congratulated for making an outstanding selection.” The governor noted, “After I became governor, I appointed Sandra to fill the first vacany that came open on the Court of Appeals. Her abiliities were so obvious that I actively sought her out to serve on the court. That was the only time I have done that.” “Her judicial temperment, knowledge of the law and her willingness to work long