‘Supreme Turnabout’

California’s high court lost its long standing as a great court when the Bird court began to disregard the law to pursue its own agenda, thereby bringing forth a rising tide of public criticism and overturned decisions. The Bird court was brought down when the opposition became crystallized around the emotional issue of capital punishment, when neither the legislative nor the initiative processes could bend Bird’s unquestionably moral, but undeniably stubborn opposition.

The current court, by a narrow majority, simply ruled that what the initiative process brought forth, and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, was the law. Those of us who disagree with this law should attempt to change the law, not the court. Those of us who believe in the rule of law should rejoice in the decision regardless how we feel about the law.

Respect for the law will bring back respect for the court.

JAMES ALEXIOU

Irvine