Judicial System Arguments

* Re “Arguments Against the Judicial System Ignore the Facts,” Ventura County Perspective, Aug. 20.

Judge Henry J. Walsh’s response to my column about jury duty hardly changed my beliefs that the judicial system is ballooning and in need of an overhaul but did amplify my conviction that those inside the system miss the point.

Between birth and death, we are blessed with a finite number of days. When one or more of those days is taken away against our will, we essentially have our freedom violated. Isn’t that why we incarcerate criminals--to punish them? On the day I was legally required to serve, not one jury was impaneled. Isn’t that inefficient, arrogant and abusive? It is clear to me that those who control the system feel that their time is more important than the time of those of us subpoenaed to serve jury duty.

We are all aware that no-fault auto insurance and decriminalizing drugs are issues that have been on the ballot and before the Legislature. The fact that they have failed to become law does not necessarily mean that they are bad ideas. Why would we expect the Legislature to do anything different? Most are attorneys and only see one side of the issue.

The only way to change the law is to elect candidates who view human existence in broad terms rather than in narrow, self-serving goals.

I regularly read letters to the editor, as I think it is an important venue that allows ordinary citizens, such as myself and Judge Walsh, to state their views and thereby stimulate dialogue on the issues that we feel need correction. Isn’t there an election coming up?

ALAN J. PETERSON

Santa Paula