O’Connor Inspires Crowd At UI Law Students Pack Address By First Woman On U.S. Supreme Court

Invited to speak in Idaho - known for defying federal dictates and wanting to do things its own way - one of the top judges in the land chose a sensitive topic: “The Supreme Court and State Sovereignty.”

Would Sandra Day O’Connor cling to her conservative nature and champion states’ rights? Or would she stress the constitutional powers of the federal government?

She did neither, focusing attention on the value of both in protecting the rights of individuals in issues ranging from abortion to gun control.

“Most of us wouldn’t hesitate to double-bolt the hotel room door, or use the protection of both seat belt and air bag,” she said, comparing the dual levels of government to some everyday safeguards. “A robust balance of power between the state and federal governments reduces the chance of tyranny by either.”

O’Connor spoke Tuesday to a rapt audience at the University of Idaho. Hers was the second in a series of lectures funded by a $1 million gift from the late Judge Sherman J. Bellwood to the university law school. Bellwood, a 1939 UI graduate, was president of the Idaho State Bar Association and later an Idaho District Court judge.

O’Connor’s topic was federalism. She explained how the Supreme Court in recent years has made decisions that should promote cooperation between the state and federal bureaucracies.

But any topic would have likely impressed the audience, which was packed with law students.

“It was awesome,” said aspiring lawyer Drew Pendlebury. “We’ve been looking forward to this for six months.”

Lisa Allred and her classmates had just read many of the cases that O’Connor cited.

“It’s great that she’s here,” said Allred. “The law school is energized by her presence.”

Allred, who has two young children and plans to go into public law, had extra reason to be inspired by the first woman to be named to the U.S. Supreme Court. She mentioned O’Connor’s status as a mother (she has three sons and five grandchildren) as well as an accomplished jurist.

The importance of family to O’Connor also was pointed out by Linda Copple Trout, a UI graduate who was the first woman appointed to the Idaho Supreme Court. She is now its chief justice.

Trout said she first met O’Connor last summer and was impressed by her warmth, good humor and approachability. She noted that when O’Connor graduated near the top of her Stanford University law class in 1952, the only job offer she could get from a private firm was as a legal secretary.

Gov. Phil Batt, who also spoke, added that O’Connor served in all three branches of Arizona’s state government.

“She is refreshing in her attitude as well as her performance,” Batt said. “Her conservative but practical views pretty much reflect how we feel about things here in Idaho.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: JUSTICE O’CONNOR Sandra Day O’Connor was born March 26, 1930, in El Paso, Texas. She received a bachelor’s degree in 1950 and a law degree in 1952 from Stanford University. She worked as an attorney for San Mateo County, Calif., had a private law practice, then was Arizona’s assistant attorney general. Elected to the Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix, she later served in the Arizona Senate and was appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals by then-Gov. Bruce Babbitt. President Ronald Reagan nominated O’Connor to the Supreme Court in July 1981. Upon confirmation by the Senate, she became the first woman to serve on the highest court in the land.