L.A. Courts
Many of us were struck by Charles Lindner’s effort to smear the court and others for the unprecedented failures within the Los Angeles Police Department (Opinion, March 19). Judge Larry Paul Fidler is a former criminal defense attorney originally appointed by Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. The assistant supervising judge for criminal felony matters is Judge Stephen O’Neil, a former civil litigator with the U.S. attorney’s office. The presiding judge of the entire court was a civil litigator appointed by Gov. George Deukmejian.
There is no evidence to support Lindner’s contention that judges have deliberately ignored perjurious testimony. He would somehow have the judges take over the defense attorneys’ examination of police officers to prove that they are not truthful. It is the obligation of defense attorneys to cross-examine effectively; for judges to interfere would be to meddle in the representation of counsel.
The lamentable behavior at the Rampart station was uncovered by the Police Department and the district attorney’s office, not by anyone from the defense bar.
VICTOR E. CHAVEZ
Presiding Judge
LARRY P. FIDLER
Supervising Judge, Criminal Courts
L.A. Superior Court
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