Dear Editor:
I was saddened to read in your excellent newspaper the unfortunate diatribe against judges in the Stackhouse Soapbox, March 28.
It is one thing to disagree with a judgment rendered, but it does nothing for building a community and society of respect and justice when one refers to the judge as 'ignorant' and the justice system as 'bleeding-heart'. Stackhouse says judges "... may be smart. But, they are the most gullible; which cancels out the intelligence as far as I am concerned." In my lifetime I have had the opportunity to meet and know several judges, none of whom I would ever characterize as ignorant or gullible. They have been deeply committed to justice and fairness and very aware of persons who experience any form of victimization. Judges must be knowledgeable about law and as wise as they can be in applying the law in each case that comes before them.
Like many others I was surprised at what seemed a very lenient sentence given Graham James. It is really only in recent years that the sexual abuse and exploitation of children was acknowledged at all, and the sports world was one of the last places where it has been addressed. There is no question that such abuse cannot be tolerated. However, we all play a role in protecting the youth of our communities. Part of that protecting is accomplished in re-enforcing respect for law, proper treatment of each other, respect for all the players in the justice system we have. That includes speaking with respect of the judges who within our system are entrusted with making decisions based on law and acting with impartiality and, as far as it is humanly possible, without bias or prejudice.
Mr. Editor, your readers deserve better. Even the soapbox orator should consider the impact of his words.
Walter Farquharson
Saltcoats, Sask.
