Racial Epithets in Court

Based on early reports about the apparently racist remarks made on the bench by Calabro, I was all for stringing the guy up. But as the story has emerged, it seems pretty clear that he was quoted out of context.

For me, his explanation has the ring of truth: His use of the (ordinarily abominable) phrase “nigger case” was intended as verbal shorthand for “another shameful case in which this disgraceful epithet was hurled.”

Understood in that context, his remarks reveal him as the very opposite of the racist he is accused of being.

I think the guy’s clean. I think we all need to admit that there was a terrible misunderstanding, and we lost our cool, operating with superficial information. Consider: Everyone of us who has discussed this story has spoken the dreaded word.

Reiner has an opportunity to admit that he acted hastily and come off as a hero in the end in this matter.

MARTY CLARK

Chatsworth