Sandra O’Connor: ‘A person for all seasons’. High court nomination makes history

“I am extremely happy and honored to have been nominated by President Reagan for a position on the United States Supreme Court. If confirmed, I will do my best to serve the Court and this nation in a manner that will bring credit to the President, to my family and to all the people of this great nation.” -Sandra O’Connor Rumor and sketchy reports had already traveled from Washington to Phoenix. Electricity and excitement had begun to build. Law clerks _and fellow jurists clutching legal documents and research materials joined newsmen in a first floor courtroom of Phoenix’s State Capitol building. The already-crowded room spilled with people into an adjacent hallway, the clerk’s office and outside lobby as the press conference began. Court of Appeals Judge Sandra D. O’Connor, dressed conservatively in a blue dress, walked nervously to the platform . Behind her followed her family and John Rousell, deputy press secretary for the president. O’Connor stood at the podium in front of an elevated bench bearing her name. As she read her brief prepared remarks, each word was punctuated by the strobe flashes and staccato shutter release of news cameras. Her husband, Phoenix attorney John J. O’Connor III, and their three sons accompanied her to the brief July 7 morning news conference in the Court of Appeals courtroom. The judge, who was applauded warmly upon completion of her opening remarks, said she was greatly honored to be nominated to the Supreme Court, but “never thought it would