Critics of the Courts Draw Harsh Judgments

Re “Frist Initiative Creates Rift in GOP Base,” April 24: Hypocrisy is rarely a strong enough word to describe the actions of our government. Wouldn’t one need a more damning term to fit the egregious and inflammatory actions of today’s GOP, which seeks to denounce judges who aren’t “strict constitutionalists,” while simultaneously preparing to alter the rules of the Constitution to fit their needs?

Matt Nelson

Long Beach

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I read with great concern about the evangelical Christian plot to cut off funding to those courts whose rulings they don’t agree with (April 22). That is an outrage! We are a pluralistic society. I had always thought that conservatives espoused smaller government, greater personal responsibility and a separation of church and state. The last is perhaps the most important but least understood of the principles. It is meant to protect the church from the state and the state (we the people) from the church. I don’t choose to live in a state that is determined by the worship beliefs of the few.

Juho Ares

Laguna Beach

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The behind-closed-doors meetings between Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins and others did not reveal much that was not already known. What struck me was the blatant hypocrisy of their condemnation of the Supreme Court’s ruling that bans executing minors. These are the same men who claim to be fervently pro-life. What part of “Thou shalt not kill” don’t these guys understand?

Dirk Blocker

Santa Barbara

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The people of Ecuador took to the streets to oust a president who had attempted to stack the Ecuadorean supreme court with judges loyal to his agenda (April 21). We can all hope that George W. Bush, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and those Americans who are hellbent on destroying our judiciary system are paying attention to Ecuador’s stunning lesson in what it takes to preserve democracy.

Frank T. Smathers

Santa Clarita