Sandra D. O'Connor, a 51-year-old
judge of the Arizona Court of Appeals,
has moved into position as a
top contender to fill the Supreme
court vacancy, administration
sources said last night.
They confirmed that Judge O'Connor
was on the so-called "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 that had already been interviewed
by the administration in
the past few days.
These sources declined to disclose
how many names were on the "short
list" and how many of those were
women, but an original "long list"
had about 25 possible candidates for
the vacancy.
Judge O'Connor wife of a Phoenix
attorney, has been an active member
,of the Republican Party, and is described
by party members as politi-
'cally conservative. She served two
'full terms in the Arizona state senate
and was elected majority leader before
being elected a county judge in
that state in 1975I.n 1972s he was cochairman
of the Arizona state committee
in behalf of President Nixon's
re-election.
While acknowledging that various
prominent women have been
mentioned for the vacancy in keeping
with a campaign promise by Reagan
that he would name a woman to
the high court, a well-placed administration
source indicated last night
that Judge O'Connor was more than
· just one of those many names. She
has emerged as one of the very leading
candidates for the post, he said.
There was no indication how
many more potential nominees
would be interviewed nor when the
president would announce his
choice.
Justice Stewart's retirement is due
to take effect tomorrow. The "short
list" of potential nominees has been
compiled by White House and Justice
Department officials. The president
and Attorney General William
French Smith have discussed possible
names, according to a White
House aide.

New York Times Service