‘Support for the Justices’

Your fine editorial in favor of the retention of our California Supreme Court justices is a lucid argument for the maintenance of an independent judiciary within the state. The voters should understand, as you point out, that the judicial arm of government is not in business to conduct a popularity contest, nor is its purpose to cower before the other equal branches of government; its sole purpose is to fairly and impartially interpret the law.

Herbert Hoover, after he left the White House, facetiously lamented that it was utterly amazing that he, while President, was alone the cause of empires toppling, of causing the stock market crash, as being the progenitor of the Great Depression, and the direct cause of the ills visited upon the inhabitants of the globe. He said he felt, in a perverse way, somewhat flattered that he had possessed so much power.

I imagine Hoover, if he were alive, would have a modicum of sympathy for Chief Justice Bird. She has been blamed for every thing from the cause of the common cold to the loss of the Angels in the American League playoffs by every cheap and opportunistic politician, including Gov. George Deukmejian, Rep. Ed Zschau, Mike Curb, William Campbell and the guy running for dog catcher.

IRA GELFAND

Long Beach