The Honorable Thing for Kline to Do? Resign

Orange County Superior Court Judge Ronald C. Kline now realizes he lost the majority vote in the primary and that he has no chance of winning the November election. So he wants to do the honorable thing and remove his name from the ballot.

If he really wants to do the honorable thing, he should resign from office and stop drawing his $136,224 salary.

Kline also filed his declaration of candidacy after he was placed under house arrest. Where is the honor in that?

At this point, Kline’s wishes are irrelevant. Election law does not allow candidates to withdraw after the primary election. It’s not the time to make changes to laws, especially because of a man such as Kline.

Cristina Clougherty

Newport Beach

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Re “In Kline’s Case, the Dots Don’t Seem to Connect,” Dana Parsons, March 15:

Parsons writes: “The practical reality is that Kline, if found guilty, will lose his judgeship simply by being a felon. That doesn’t address the issue of whether someone who looks at pornographic pictures is automatically disqualified as a competent judge of cases involving complex civil litigation.”

I agree that everyone is innocent until proved guilty, but that’s not Parsons’ argument. The practical reality is that if I were found guilty of making or receiving child pornography, child molestation, bank robbery, murder or whatever, I would (no fanfare, please) lose my job, my friends and my very anchor to society.

Why should being a simple felon be less disgraceful for a judge than it is for a priest, a politician or any of us? It’s fine when a celebrity or rock star shows an incredible lack of judgment. But society expects much more from a judicial authority. Sorry, but some standards must be maintained.

Jaci D. Cuddy

Laguna Beach

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If Pope John Paul II can stop the poaching of green sea turtles in Baja California by calling turtles “meat,” perhaps O.C. election officials can get the pope to use his considerable influence in convincing voters who don’t read newspapers to refrain from voting in November for Kline, who has been charged with child molestation and possession of pornography.

June Maguire

Mission Viejo