Newspaper article, San Francisco Chronicle, The Kauffman-Henry Collection
O’Connor is now a U.S. Justice
Sandra Day O’Connor took her seat today as the 102nd Justice and the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court.
President Reagan, who fulfilled a campaign promise to name a woman to the Court by nominating the 51-year-old Arizona judge, attended the brief ceremony in the courtroom. It was the first time a President had visited the Supreme Court since President Ford attended Associate Justice John Paul Stevens’ swearing-in ceremony in 1975.
President Reagan and Judge O’Connor entered the courtroom simultaneously but from opposite sides a few minutes past 2 o’clock. Judge O’Connor was escorted to a ceremonial chair, in the well of the courtroom below the bench, that was used in the Court’s early years by Chief Justice John Marshall. The eight members of the Court took their seats on the bench moments later. Spectators Fill Courtroom
The ceremony, formally known as an investiture, lasted barely 10 minutes. The courtroom was filled well beyond its 400-seat capacity with Judge O’Connor’s family and friends and with Government officials, including a number of Senators. The Senate confirmed Judge O’Connor on Tuesday by a vote of 99 to 0.
Potter Stewart, whose retirement from the Court in July paved the way for today’s event, watched from a seat at the side of the courtroom.
Attorney General William French Smith presented to the Court the official document, signed by President Reagan, commissioning Judge O’Connor as an Associate Justice. Alexander L. Stevas, clerk of the
Newspaper article, Phoenix Gazette, The Kauffman-Henry Collection
O’Connor Is Expected To Win Unanimous Support Of Senate
WASHINGTON – Arizona Judge Sandra Day O’Connor appeared headed toward unanimous Senate confirmation today as the nation’s first woman Supreme Court justice. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., told reporters an early challenger of the nomination , conservative Jeremiah Denton, R-Ala., had pledged an “aye” vote on confirmation. Denton voted “present” when Thurmond’s commit – tee recommended her confirmation. Thurmond mentioned other New Right abortion foes who had been persuaded to support President Reagan’s nominee and added : “I’m hoping to get a unanimous vote. I think that will he the case.” THE FOUR-HOUR Senate debate period ended without a single indication of opposition to Judge O’Connor ‘s nomination. The period was used largely for “quorum calls” ordered when there was no senator on the floor to make a speech. Often an orator had only the presiding officer, staff members and sparsely-filled galleries for. his audience. The confirmation vote was scheduled for this evening. The evaporation of conservative opposition was cheered by Democratic orators, who matched Republicans in calling for a unanimous vote – while denouncing the “single issue” (abortion) politics that had troubled some Republicans. Sen . Howard Metzenbaum, D-Ohio , said he differs with Judge O’Connor on many issues but thinks she is qualified and should not he defeated on the basis of one issue. “I hope that today there won’t be a single vote cast against her confirma – tion,” Metzenbaum
O’Connor is confirmed as justice
WASHINGTON – The Senate, ending an all-male tradition nearly two centuries old, unanimously confirmed Sandra Day O’Connor as an associate justice of the Supreme Court Monday. Mrs. O’Connor, a 51-year-old Arizona state appeals judge and former El Paso resident. will be sworn in Friday in time to join the court for the opening of its 1981-82 term Oct. 5.
The vote was 99-0, with only Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., who was attending an economic conference in his home state, missing from the tally. Baucus had supported Mrs. O’Connor in earlier committee action.
After the vote, Mrs. O’Connor appeared on the steps of the Capitol with Senate leaders and Vice President George Bush.
Grinning jubilantly, she said she was overjoyed by the depth of Senate support for her nomination. “My hope is that after I’ve been across the street and worked for awhile that they’ll all feel glad for the wonderful vote they gave me today.” she said.
Once installed on the the court, she said, “I’m going to get very busy, very fast.”
Mrs. O’Connor will become the 102nd person to don the black robes of a Supreme Court member since the court was created as one of three equal branches of the federal government 191 years ago.
A graduate of Stanford University Law School, she worked as a state prosecutor in Arizona before serving terms in both houses of the state Legislature.
She was a former majority leader of the Arizona Senate, served as a state trial court judge and later was named by Gov. Bruce Babbitt to
Nominee scored other firsts in business, political careers
Sandra Day O’Connor’s nomination to be the first sister among the brethren of the U.S. Supreme Court is certainly the biggest “first” in the 51-year-0ld jurist’s life. But the Arizona Court of Appeals judge is no novice when it comes to breaking new ground. From becoming the first female director in the 92-year history of the board of the First National Bank of Arizona in 1971 (now First Interstate Bank), to being picked in 1973 to lead the Senate majority in the Legislature, O’Connor has compiled ~’I impressive list of accomplishments. A… Arizona native, Sandra Day was born March 26, 1930, and grew up on her parents’ Lazy-B Ranch in Greenlee County along the New Mexico border. At age 16, she headed for Stanford University, where she received her undergraduate degree in economics and then entered the university’s law college, graduating third in the 1952 graduating class. Top honors that year were taken by William Rehnquist, who went on to practice law in Phoenix and, in 1972, become a Supreme Court justice. O’Connor was a member of the board of editors of the Stanford Law Review and graduated with the Order of the Coif. Stanford Law School Dean Charles Meyers said yesterday that the appointment of O’Connor is “marvelous for the country, for Stanford, and for the law school.” Meyers said O’Connor is “a woman of great ability; tremendous balance and good political understanding.” Emeritus Professor John Hurlbut of the law school said he remembered O’Connor well from his classes
O’Connor in capital to meet with Reagan
WASHINGTON (UPI) – Judge Sandra O’Connor went directly to the White House Monday upon arriving in Washington for a series of crucial meetings on her nomination to become the first woman on the Supreme Court. O’Connor, President Reagan’s choice to fill the first high court vacancy in six years, was met at National Airport in late afternoon by Attorney General William French Smith and driven to the White House. A White House spokesman called the Monday gathering a “preliminary, get-to-know-you” session. It involved Smith and members of the president’s congressional liaison staff charged with shepherding her nomination through the Senate. Judge O’Connor was to begin a round of meetings with Justice Department officials and key members of the Senate this morning and meet with the president on Wednesday. O’Connor, a member of the Arizona Court of Appeals, has been attacked for her record on abortion and for supporting the Equal Rights Amendment. But Sen. Barry Goldwater – her leading backer – issued a statement Monday lauding the 51-year-old judge for having the “basic conservative philosophy” . needed on the high court. She told a brief airport news conference she hopes to lay to rest controversy generated by her selection during her visits with Senate leaders and members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will pass judgment on her nomination. “I am advised this is customary for a nominee to the court,” she said shortly after arriving from her home in Phoenix. O’Connor said
Newspaper mention, Scottsdale Daily Progress, The Kauffman-Henry Collection
O’Connor hearings planned
W~ If!NGTON – Confirmation hearings on the ~,.., n~mmatton of Sandra Day O’Connor to the Supreme Court “,ti will be Sept. 9-11, Sen. Strom Thunnond, R-S.C., chairman ‘ of the Senate Judicary Committee, said. O’Connor, a state appe’.118 court judge in Arizona, has been nominated by President Reagan to succeed Justice Potter Stewart who retired_ this month. If confirmed, the Paradise Valley’ resident will be the first woman ever to serve on the nation’s highest court.
Mesa Tribune, Newspaper mention, The Kauffman-Henry Collection
O’Connor hearings impressed readers
The perfonnance of Supreme Court nominee Sandra O’Connor during Congressional hearings on her nomination clearlr w~ convincing to Tribune readers who responded to last week s Opinion Poll. O’Connor an Arizona appellate court justice and former state legislator, ~cored a 76 percent favorable rating to.~ ques~on which asked if she had effectively answered her cntics durmg the hearings. Only 12 percent of those responding to the poll sa!d. she had not been effective while another 12 percent had no opmion. Majorities also voiced a perference for staying out of problems in other countries judged by their answers to two other questions. Fifty three percent of those responding wer~ opposed to off~ring aid to Poland if that country should be invaded by Soviet troops while 76 percent said the United States shouldn’t ~upport rebels fighting the government in Iran. “We should mmd our own business,” one respondent wrote. However, Poland had some supporters with 47 percent saying the U.S. should provide help if that country is invade~. Readers also cast a skeptical eye on spending for high school sports and Kirlian photography. . . Fifty-three percent said too much mone~ s~nt ?n. high school sports compared to 41 percen_t ~ho dido t think it is excessive and 6 percent who had no opmion. . Only 24 percent said Kirlian photography, bi~ed as war to determine a person’s bio-energy field or aura, is a valid scientific field of study compared to 47 percent who said no and 29 percent who had no
Newspaper mention, Phoenix Gazette, The Kauffman-Henry Collection
O’Connor Hearings Go Without Falwell
WASHINGTON (AP) – Moral s Majority leader Jerry Falwell will not be among several anti-abortionists ‘; who will testify next week against I Judge Sandra Day O’Connor’s nomination to become the first female Supreme Court justice. Falwell’s name was on a list of opposition witnesses released Friday by the Senate Judiciary Committee. But his spokesman in Lynchburg, Va., said Falwell, who opposes abortion, has decided to reserve judgment. “He has decided not to testify at . the O’Connor hearing because it would be perceived in advance that he was opposed to the nomination,” Cal Thomas said. “Conceivably, if her answers are satisfactory, Falwell could speak in support of her nomination.” I t Judge O’Connor, who has been in _ Washington since Monday, will lead off the hearings next Wednesday before the Judiciary Committee. Another 25 persons have been scheduled to appear either in support or opposition to President Reagan’s first high court nominee. The list includes a number of antiabortion groups, including the National Right to Life Committee, which oppose Judge O’Connor’s nomination because they believe she supports the Supreme Court’s 1973 decision legalizing abortion. Testifying in support of the nomination will be representatives of the American Bar Assoc~tion, the National Organization for Women, the National Women’s Political Caucus, the National Bar Association and the National Association of Women Judges. From Arizona, where Judge O’Connor is a judge and former legislator,