Reagan Nominates a Woman to Serve on the Supreme Court

ombined News Services Washington-President Reagan, a break with 191 years of tradition, yesterday ~ominated Judge Sandra Day O’Connor of the Arizona Court of Appeals to be the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. The nomination, in fulfillment of a campaign promise to name a woman to one of the first vacancies on the nation’s highest court, was hailed by women’s groups. But it also drew immediate fire from some of the President’s conservative allies, including the politically potent Moral Majority, which says O’Connor has taken stands favoring abortion and the Equal Rights Amendment. Calling the 51-year-old O’Connor “a person for all seasons,” Reagan brushed aside the criticisms of antiabortion groups, some of which plan a campaign against her confirma-. ,tion. “I am completely satisfied with her,” a smiling Reagan said as he announced her appointment in the White House press briefing room. Reagan urged the Senate to give “swift bipartisan confirmation” to her “so that, as soon as possible, she may take her seat on the court and her place in history.” Early reaction from the Senate indicated that her confirmation would be easy. Attorney General William French Smith said he hoped the FBI checks on O’Connor could be completed so that the actual nomina: tion could be sent to the Senate in less than four weeks. Referring to his campaign pledge to make one of his first Supreme Court appointments “the most qualified woman I could possibly find,” the” President said he was