Letter: 'Shadow judge' remark is unfair

As correctly pointed out by Justice of the Peace William Jansen, most pro tems help protect against Justice Court calendars becoming needlessly congested when a justice of the peace is understandably unable to preside over his courtroom during certain times of the year.

Moreover, many of these pro tems accept the responsibilities that come with presiding over Justice Court, while perhaps also bringing with them a "less jaded" approach toward hearing but another preliminary hearing or trial before the bench. It would be no surprise to learn that most pro tems' backgrounds include not only practice as attorneys, but also an even more germane, former practice as either a defense counsel or a prosecutor with the district attorney's.

Thus, labeling all pro tems as "shadow judges," including but in no way limited to, pro tem Judges Torris Brand, Melanie Tobiasson, Steve Wolfson and others is patently offensive and unwarranted.

Albeit, there may exist legitimate concerns by Pitaro and others regarding a pro tem judge who has never been licensed to practice law in the United States and subsequently sits on the bench to rule over the fate of another. However, the qualification standard for pro tem judges is an entirely different issue, which does not restore "justice" to those who have been sliced by quick razor tongues.

S. DEVIN STONE

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