Arizona Judge Reported on List for Supreme Court
July 3, 1981
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WASHINGTON, July 1 - Sandra D. O'Connor, a 51-year-old judge of the Arizona Court of Appeals, is a top contender to fill the Supreme Court vacancy, Reagan Administration sources said last night.
They confirmed that Judge O'Connor was on the so-calk!d "short list" of possible nominees by President Reagan to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Justice Potter Stewart and said that she was one of a very few persons who were interviewed by Administration officials in the past few days.
An administration official said today that the "short list" contained fewer than five names, winnowed by the Attorney General from an original "long list" of about 25 names. The official declined to say how many names on the "short list were women.
Judge O'Connor has been an active member of the Republican Party, and is described by party members as politically conservative. She was appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals, the state's second highest court, 18 months ago by Gov. Bruce Babbitt, a Democrat.
She earlier served two full terms in the Arizona State Senate and was elected majority leader before being elected a Superior Court Judge in Phoenix in 1975. In 1972 she was co-chairman of the Arizona state committee in behalf of President Nixon's re-election.
A well-placed Administration source indicated last night that Judge O'Connor had emerged as one of the top candidates for the post.
There was no indication how many more potential nominees would be interviewed nor when the President