Charles Fried, Carter professor of general jurisprudence at Harvard Law School, was narrowly confirmed two weeks ago to the highest court in Massachusetts after a bitter four-month battle.

Fried had come under heavy fire from labor, women's and civil rights groups across the state for his conservative writings and service in the Reagan Administration.

But in the end, four of the eight members of the Governor's Council voted to confirm him to the state's Supreme Judicial Court. Lt. Gov. A. Paul Cellucci cast a rare tie-breaking vote to seal Fried's place on the court.

In an unusual move earlier this summer, the Governor's Council actually delayed its hearings on Fried's nomination by two months after a huge outcry by liberal groups across the state.

"We feel he represents a huge threat to the people of Massachusetts," said Lester P. Lee Jr., co-chair of the Anti-Fried Coalition: The Committee for a Just Supreme Court. "He is an extremely conservative man who throughout most of his career has worked against tenant rights, civil rights, human rights, women's rights and consumer rights."

Other groups such as the Massachusetts chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW), the Women's Bar Association and the Cambridge Tenants Union also opposed Fried's confirmation.

But this anti-Fried sentiment was no longer an issue after Jordan Levy (D-Worcester) cast the final vote in Fried's favor to assure his confirmation.

"Charles Fried does not have horns and a long green tail," Levy told the Boston Globe. "He's not a rapist, murderer or pedophile."

Fried is expected to be officially appointed to the court this month.

Reaction to Fried's confirmation was mixed, ranging from bitter disappointment among liberals to relief in the Weld administration.

"We are very disappointed and troubled by this conservative with a long history of right-wing political activities and [a] political agenda of the right wing," Lee said.

"We are concerned that he does not have a full understanding of what it means to have the right to choose," said Toni K. Troop, president of Boston chapter of NOW. She said the organization was also concerned about Fried's views on issues of violence, access to legal services, health care, civil rights and women's rights issues.

Despite the outpouring of protest, several councillors said they were pleased with the selection process.

"I was disappointed about the vote, but you win some, you lose some," said Dorothy Kelly-Gay (D-Somerville).

"In all, I think it was a great process. Yes, I didn't win, but I don't feel that I have lost. A principle fight is never lost," she said.