Called to the Bench

* Re “In the Name of Justice, Judges Should Get Fair Pay,” Commentary, Aug. 6: Show me a judge who is in it for the money, and I’ll show you somebody who needs to find a new line of work. Michael P. Judge forgets that being a judge, like being a priest, a teacher, a fireman (among others), is a vocation. It is about serving the community and about being in a position to positively affect all levels of society. It is not about pay raises and big salaries (though I found it ironic that the author considers a salary of “about $133,000 per year” inadequate). The job in itself should be reward enough.

Judge states that talented, experienced judges are fleeing the system, but does the community really need judges whose main motivation is making more money? No. What the community needs are people whose main focus is serving the people to the best of their ability. I say good riddance to those fleeing judges--it opens up the bench to people who might actually have the community’s interests at heart. Money-grubbers need not apply.

GRACE M. REGULLANO

Buena Park