LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


Governor's comments were a waste of paper

In your feature in April, Gov. Wilson took another unfounded shot at the plaintiffs' bar. He claimed the Consumer Attorneys of California have changed the law to their advantage and very much to the disadvantage of the employers.

Before he makes such a ridiculous statement, he should first check the record. Since becoming governor, not one piece of pro-injury victim legislation has crossed Gov. Wilson's desk without it being vetoed. Further, every lawyer in this state, with the possible exception of our governor, knows that during his term as governor, the appellate and Supreme Court decisions of this state have overwhelmingly changed the law to the detriment of injured plaintiffs and in favor of insurance companies, businesses and employers.

I do not expect Gov. Wilson to check the record, or even acknowledge that he is wrong, since his traveling tort reform rhetoric has, and always will, lack substance. He really should come to grips with the fact that the voters of this state are not interested in tort reform, as demonstrated by their rejection of Propositions 200, 201 and 202 last March.

Gov. Wilson already dominates two of the three branches of state government, and fortunately the checks and balance system will prevent him from taking total control and rewriting laws that will further promote his special interest groups at the expense of injured parties.

Joseph J. Babich
Sacramento


Giving any space -- much less the front page -- to Pete Wilson's insights on the practice of law and the plebiscite was a complete waste of paper and your readers' time.

Wilson's letter in the wake of the Simpson verdict requesting that the California Judicial Council limit the content of closing arguments showed that he's out of touch with yet another segment of California. Why provide somebody who has no clue about the practice of law with a statewide forum? The space could have been better used for an interview with a real lawyer.

My hat is off to the photographer, though, for a perfect portrayal of Wilson's smug distance from the common people.

Robert Alan Soltis
La Jolla


Don't make us pull teeth

As a new practitioner, it has occurred to me that there has been a wealth of information for new attorneys. When attorneys are given the news that they pass the bar, there should be information given as to the publications catalogue the State Bar puts out. It is a great starting point for getting information.

It is like pulling teeth trying to get a bureaucracy to take a suggestion like this seriously, but at least I tried.

Jeffrey P. Lustman
Los Angeles


Three good reasons to keep the State Bar

Having been a member in good standing for 55 years (and still going), I will vote to keep the present State Bar with the advice to the 119,332 active member colleagues to simply "hang in there" for at least the next 55 years.

What are my reasons? What difference does it make? Maybe I think if Quentin Kopp could dream up SB 60 and Gov. Pete Wilson thinks maybe he'll vote yes, those are two reasons to vote no. Or maybe I just like paying only $478 per year to bring the few egregiously acting shysters to their well-deserved just desserts; or even maybe I think the monthly subscription to the California Bar Journal is alone worth the $478.

Elster S. Haile
Palo Alto


Ex-mayor explains his convictions

Thanks to Peter Kaye for the plug in your May issue. I am a former mayor of San Diego and now the city's No. 1 radio talk show host.

I'm sure space did not permit Peter to finish his thought when he also mentioned a conviction on 12 counts of perjury. The conviction was reversed by the 4th District Court of Appeal and the California Supreme Court based on a finding of jury tampering.

Roger Hedgecock
La Jolla


Letters to the Editor

California Bar Journal invites its readers to send letters on any topic. All letters must be signed with a daytime telephone number and complete address (only the city or town will be used in print). All letters are subject to editing, and no anonymous letters will be printed. Send letters to Editor, California Bar Journal, 555 Franklin St., San Francisco, CA 94102-4498; fax to 415/561-8247; or e-mail: calbarj@ix.netcom.com.

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