Judge in Woods Case Deserves Recall

Response to “Judge Recall Effort Is a Misguided One” (April 9): Once in a while, I read an article written, obviously, by someone who does not know the facts--or conveniently forgets them surrounding the murder of my brother (Steve Woods). It has prompted me to share the facts.

The racial allegations are false. The attackers at Calafia Beach included illegal Latinos. Their target was a group of unarmed high school students composed of Latino, black, Hawaiian and white students.

As for Judge (Everett W.) Dickey’s “courage,” does it take “courage” to justify cold-blooded murder based upon “doing badly in school, feelings of inferiority” and coming from a large family? And when they are paroled (California Youth Authority average time served for murder is five years), will they--as well as other gang members--act upon the message Judge Dickey sent, i.e., if you feel inferior, it is OK to murder?

“Egregious bad judgment” is not absent but, indeed, the very reason for the recall.

This recall is to help the next victim. Deterring is the answer, not excuses.

SHELLIE WOODS

San Clemente