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LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.

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Byline: The Register-Guard

Recall effort misguided

It is good that Jerry Ritter's cold winter heart (letters, Dec. 19) was warmed by sunny recall petitions against Marion Circuit Judge Mary Mertens James, an effort to intimidate the judicial arm of our democratic system of checks and balances. He appears to believe that a majority of those voting can create law without further question. In Oregon, we citizens are allowed a portion of legislative power through the initiative process. However, both we and the Legislature are subject to judicial review.

Ritter's agenda follows that of the Constitution Party of Oregon. This right-wing, anti-tax, anti-judicial, anti-land use arm of the New South demonizes judges who rule against their neo-con long-range plans. It denigrates judges as, "liberal, activist, legislative, violating our God-given rights, out of control," etc.

Ritter's local base, Tom Steffen, is the Oregon link to Dick Armey's corporation, Freedom Works, which is active in trying to control Oregon issues from its East Coast money power base.

As columnist Russell Sadler reminded us in his Dec. 12 column, we citizens do have a right to to legislate through the initiative process. However, even our successful ballot measures must pass constitutional muster when challenged.

Marion County voters should not penalize our judges when they exercise their function as the third check and balance of our governmental process. They should wait for the Oregon Supreme Court decision. That vote is the important one, not recall.

NEIL DAUGHERTY

Eugene

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