El Pasoan is court frontrunner

WASHINGTON (UPI) - Judge Sandra D. O'Connor of the Arizona Court of Appeals , a native El Pasoan, is on the short list of Potential nominees to fill the upcoming Supreme Court vacancy, it was learned today.

Administration sources said the choice would be made "very soon," possibly next week, of a new Supreme Court justice for the opening that will occur Friday with the resignation of
Justice Potter Stewart.

MRS. O'CONNOR WAS born in El Paso. Her parents had a ranch that crossed the New Mexico Arizona line in the area of Duncan, Ariz., and Lordsburg, N.M.

When it came time, Mrs. O'Connor's mother traveled to El Paso to have the baby and stayed with Mrs. O'Connor's grandmother, who lived in El Paso at the time.

David Gergen, White House director of communications, today ruled out any announcement of a new Supreme ' Court justice this weekend. He would not confirm that Judge O'Connor had been interviewed at the White House for the vacancy.

"I DON'T WANT TO speculate on names or the process" of selection, be said. "It's not a fruitful exercise ."

The Washington Post, quoting well-placed administration officials, reported Ms. O'Connor has been interviewed for the high court opening and is being eyed as the frontrunner to fill the vacancy,

Aides to Sen. Barry Goldwater , R-Ariz., said today the senator immediately notified the White House about Judge O'Connor when Stewart announced his resignation.

"THE SENATOR HAS really pushed for her and likes her a lot," said one aide. Another said that when Stewart made his announcement , "The senator jumped on the phone and said, 'I've got an excellent woman.'"

Ms. O'Connor, 51, is a Republican who finished third in the Stanford University law class in which Justice William Rehnquist finished first.

Administration sources said today Attorney General William French Smith had compiled a list of 20-25 names for the Supreme Court opening. But the sources said the list has
been narrowed considerably.

FIRST LADY Nancy Reagan, asked today if she wanted her husband to nominate a woman for the post, said she wanted him to nominate the best person for the position.

Meantime, the New York Daily News reported that black Judge Lawrence W. Pierce of the U.S. District Court in Manhattan is among those under consideration for the high court post.

The newspaper also said Pierce could be in line for appointment to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to replace Judge Amalya Lynn Kearse, who also is black and could in turn be nominated to the Supreme Court.

THE POST SAID MS. O'Connor is believed to be the only potential high court nominee interviewed by the administration so far. "She hasn't been chosen yet, but she's close," the newspaper quoted one source as saying.

The Post said she has the backing of Sens. Goldwater and Dennis DeConcini, D-Ariz.