Sun has ignored city senators' efforts to improve...

Sun has ignored city senators' efforts to improve justice

According to The Sun's editorial "Justice breakdown demands anger, action" (Feb. 11), state legislators have an obligation to get involved in the mess that is Baltimore's justice system.

It is unfortunate that the positive work of the Baltimore senators goes unreported and ignored by The Sun.

During the 1999 General Assembly session the hemorrhaging of Baltimore's justice apparatus became glaring when a judge released allegedly violent criminals because of procedural violations.

The lieutenant governor, with our support, chaired the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council for Baltimore.

Following the initial meeting, John Lewin and Judge David Mitchell were charged with bringing all parties together to effect change.

Among those in attendance were representatives of the House of Delegates (Del. Salima Marriott) and the state Senate (Sen. Clarence M. Mitchell IV).

The Sun was present at those meetings; why didn't it report our involvement and consistent monitoring of progress?

At the start of the 2000 General Assembly session, Judge Mitchell, State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy and Mr. Lewin briefed city senators on progress, which was significant, and requested certain resources. We were successful in obtaining most of the resources requested.

In January, leading justice system figures were publicly feuding and the citizens of Baltimore seemed unsure whether our system was working.

City senators took the initiative to get the Senate president to allow the chairman of the Judicial Proceedings Committee and the Budget and Taxation Subcommittee on Public Safety and Transportation to hold a hearing on these critical problems.

The Sun's editorial failed to mention that, even though one of the paper's reporters covered our press conference announcing this hearing.

Nathaniel McFadden

Baltimore

Mayor's idea wouldn't upset the separation of powers

Gregory Kane's columns are among my favorites. However, Mr. Kane made a fundamental mistake when he criticized the mayor for his wish to be "deputized" to prosecute the case of Brian Sewell, the police officer accused of planting evidence ("For all that indignation, one outrage met by silence," Feb. 14).

Mr. Kane stated that the mayor's wish would violate the "separation of functions" in government.

Mr. Kane needs to refresh himself on basic civics. Prosecutors are not in the judicial branch; they are in the same branch as the mayor, the executive branch.

If Mr. O'Malley had wished to be deputized to sit as a judge in the case, Mr. Kane's criticism would have been apt.

Robert C. Tindall

Severn

Settlement gives state a stake in tobacco use

The fate of seized, untaxed cigarettes is almost immaterial ("State should destroy cigarettes, not sell them," editorial, Feb. 12). What is material is that Maryland, and all the states involved in the national tobacco settlement, have a vested interest in continued sales (and hence use) of tobacco products, taxed or untaxed.

That's because big tobacco can only fund the settlement if it survives. To do that it must sell enough and earn enough money to remain profitably in business.

This has two major implications: a lot of people must smoke now and in the future; and states must support big tobacco to continue programs that rely on settlement payments.

Francis R. Slaughter

Elkton

We must support police before tragedies occur

How much longer are we going to accept and tolerate the violence, the blatant disregard for the sanctity of human life?

We turn out in force with our outrage, sorrow and sympathy after the tragic death of one of our law enforcement people ("Centreville officer's death spurs outpouring," Feb. 19). It is too late then.

We need to be there working with these dedicated servants before the tragedies, to prevent them from happening.

It is time for us civilians to stand up in our families, our communities and our workplaces for values, decency and horror over violence.

Clinton C. Brooks

Annapolis

Paint police cars purple, and let Modell foot the bill

The color scheme for the Baltimore City police cars should really be black and purple instead of black and blue ("Cruisers could be back in black," Feb. 10).

Think of the morale boost from Ravens' colors. And maybe Art Modell could pay for the paint -- to give back some of the money he has extracted from citizens.

Richard Jendrek

Berlin

Courts should consider refusal of Breathalyzer test

Del. John Giannetti Jr. has introduced a bill in the Maryland House that would repeal the current prohibition against an inference of guilt from a person's refusal to submit to a Breathalyzer test.

Prosecutors and the state police believe allowing into evidence the fact a driver refused the breath test will result in more drunken drivers being convicted.

Defense attorneys have argued that admission of a defendant's refusal to submit to a breath test is a violation of the defendant's Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.