Use of Stun Belt Is Abuse of Power

* I am outraged that a man would be shocked with 50,000 volts in a courtroom while defending himself, a constitutional right (July 9). Was he about to harm someone? Apparently not. Was he a threat to himself? Apparently not. How does this judge justify her actions?

Last time I heard, cruel and unusual punishment was against the law. I have seen too many judges become so enthralled with their own power that they forget they are to be judges--not executioners.

We need more oversight of judges and judges need to be more accountable for their actions. And the next time a judge gets cited for jaywalking (as I did), I’d like them to take a moment and think if George Washington envisioned a petty thief being shocked for speaking up in his own defense.

JOHN DE MASI

Huntington Beach

* We commend The Times for running on Page 1 the outrageous account of the man, on trial for petty theft, who was shocked with a stun belt in open court because he talked back to the judge.

He correctly told her that her threat to “zap” him was unconstitutional (cruel and unusual punishment), but this did not deter her.

If this kind of abuse involving the stun belt goes on in open court, what can we expect in our prisons? We should all support Amnesty International in its campaign to eliminate this instrument of torture.

RUTH and TED SHAPIN

Orange