Judicial Challenge

Re “Chief Justice George’s Mistaken Case of Identity,” by Gerald F. Uelmen, Commentary, Feb. 25:

“We want judges to decide cases by following the law and their conscience, not polls,” and, “The problem is, that was the defense presented by Rose Bird, Cruz Reynoso and Joseph Grodin in 1986. And look where it got them,” Uelmen says.

The problem was that the people did not believe Chief Justice Bird and company actually followed the law. Under Bird, the laws on the books weren’t laws at all, but merely suggestions which the courts were free to accept or reject at whim. This is the sort of “judicial independence” envisioned by those who call for its “ringing” defense.

JIM AUSTIN

Glendale