Free Trips

* Re “Federal Judges Didn’t Disclose Free Excursions,” June 30:

District Judge John Rhoades’ comments about the two free “seminars” he accepted made my skin crawl: “They’re in nice places. I learned a lot.” He learned what someone with a lot of money wanted him to learn and sold his intellectual integrity for a few rounds of golf.

Any gift (whether cash or a free excursion) to any government officer or employee should be subject to the same low limits and strict reporting. Any judge who goes on one of these junkets has either totally sold out or is grossly deceiving himself.

JOE HOPFIELD

Culver City