Justice

"Private Justice Can Be Yours if You're Rich" (Golden State, March 16) targeted the wrong system. Private justice is not merely for the rich; it is for anyone who is money- and time-conscious. The public court system is underfunded, overburdened and incapable of handling the huge volume of filings. The cases cannot receive the time and attention they merit. Litigation costs in the "free" public court justice system are exponentially greater than the cost of private justice. Alexandra Leichter Private adjudicator Beverly Hills

LAS VEGAS -- Speaking at a raucous campaign rally in Las Vegas, President Obama vowed to seek justice for those responsible for killing diplomats in an attack on a U.S. consulate in Libya and issued a stern warning to enemies of the United States. “We want to send a message to all around the world who would do us harm. No act of violence will shake the resolve of the United States of America,” Obama said to a cheering crowd estimated at 8,000 people. “I want to assure you we will bring their killers to justice.” Obama spoke hours after his administration confirmed the death of U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens and Foreign Service officer Sean Smith.

The unintended consequence of your editorial on the endless fine points of rape ("Rape and Rights," Aug. 1) will discourage most women from filing rape charges. Instead they will seek solace and redemption in therapy well away from an open-ended court case. Alleged rapists are entitled to a speedy trial, and the state should always give it to them. All rape trials should begin within 60 days. Justice delayed is justice denied. Bob Munson Newbury Park

So House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) wants to pillory Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy for "judicial activism" (April 20). Funny. The GOP was quite happy with Kennedy's judicial activism when he was the key swing vote in Bush vs. Gore. Richard Murphy Whittier

Dennis Prager (Commentary, Oct. 20) has distorted a Jewish legend to serve his unfortunate argument that by choosing "peace over justice" the jury failed to render a just verdict in the Reginald Denny case. In truth, the ancient Rabbinic story does not at all say that "Justice and peace . . . would not be able to live together." It is rather a tale about a debate among the angels as to whether God should or should not create "man." Love and justice (righteousness) argue for his creation.

Roger Simon's writing is the greatest, but a statement he made on May 5 must be corrected. He said ". . . Tower can't get on the Supreme Court. He is not a lawyer. Otherwise, Bush probably would put him there." The truth of it is that there are no legal qualifications for the post of Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. You don't have to be a lawyer, just get yourself appointed by the President. No justice before the 20th Century even had a law degree. Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., appointed in 1902, was the first to have one. Perhaps Bush shouldn't read this or John Tower may become the shortest justice after all. BENSON SMITHKIN Camarillo

Re "Ex-President of Sotheby's Gets Probation," April 30: I need help. What does government want us to do? The Justice Department prosecuted Sotheby's for price fixing yet prosecuted Microsoft for giving things away free. Meanwhile, Congress is about to force the oil industry to replace MTBE with ethanol, which will force me to pay more for gasoline. Where does government micromanagement end? I thought America was a republic, not a fascist state. Don Hull Costa Mesa

Let's get down to dollars and cents. Our allies have donated $45 billion toward our effort to restore the Kuwaiti government. It occurred to me that perhaps we've hit on a profit-making venture that also would enhance world stability. Change the meaning of USMC to U.S. Mercenary Corps. Send them throughout the world to bring truth and justice the American way, while adding profit to our treasury. DENNIS E. HAMRICK Fullerton

Re "Let's Take Care of Our Have-Nots" (Orange County Perspective, Oct. 8): It was nice to read in your editorial that the Sisters of St. Joseph in Orange are concerned about "justice for janitors." I guess the obvious question is why the good sisters will not allow organized labor to work in their own hospital. MIKE MANG Corona del Mar

Retired Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart has been hospitalized after apparently suffering a stroke, a Supreme Court spokeswoman announced today. Stewart, 70, is in a Dartmouth College hospital in Hanover, N.H. He retired from the nation's highest court in 1981, saying he wanted to spend more time with his grandchildren. The Stewarts maintain a home in Sugar Hill, N.H.