Olson Forced to Say ‘Guilty,’ Your Honor

Re “Judge Allows Olson’s Guilty Plea to Stand,” Nov. 7: I intended to excoriate the duplicitous bomb-abettor Sara Jane Olson, but I would rather congratulate and thank Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler. In forcing Olson to admit guilt or innocence clearly (and a torturous process it was!), Fidler did his job well. He upheld the interests of the people, the state and the nation. I was spitting nails when Olson declared her innocence at a press conference after pleading guilty in court (Nov. 1), claiming she could never get a fair trial. I feel better now.

Tina Forde

Malibu

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I am so tired of hearing Olson described as a “model citizen.” Good citizens live by our laws and take responsibility for their actions. In deciding every day for decades to remain a fugitive, Olson evaded both. Good citizens feel remorse for wrongful acts. Olson has now admitted conspiring to try to murder people, but her petulant conduct in and out of court clearly shows that her only regret is getting caught.

Anne Kunzig

Laguna Niguel

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In “A Trying Case for Respected Jurist” (Nov. 4), regarding Judge Fidler, Deputy Dist. Atty. Rebecca Madrid is quoted as saying that the judge has “a lot of dignity and evenhandedness.” But the article goes on to state that the judge has been known to snap at attorneys and later describes his bad temper and sarcasm. Fidler is pictured in his robe, seated at his judicial bench behind a “no whining” sign. Have our standards slipped so low that we consider this to be dignified?

James K. Hill

La Canada

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If you compare the treatment of Olson, who conspired to injure police, by the LAPD and the district attorney’s office to that of the Rampart cops, who conspired to injure--and, in fact, did injure--local citizens, you understand what equal justice under law means in Los Angeles.

Frederic Hunter

Santa Barbara