LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

An excellent judge

Editor, the Journal,

Judge Cadine Ferguson-Brown is running for election to the Superior Court. Over 40 years, I practiced in front of more than 15 local superior court and district court judges, as well as many court commissioners, and have been a commissioner myself in both juvenile court and probate-domestic court. We have been extremely fortunate here because of the really high quality of almost all of these judges. I have spoken at length to Judge Ferguson-Brown, and she impresses as someone who is already an excellent judge for Mason County.

How to decide? First, look at her supporters. The many local judges and lawyers who have supported her are people who only want to make sure the system is as good as it can be for everyone. I know most of them and trust their opinions. 

Second, look at what she chose to do as a lawyer before becoming a judge. She has been involved in all sorts of cases, not just criminal matters, because she has an interest in the people and issues that come up. Most people who are parties in court proceedings would rather have their domestic relations, probate, real property, guardianship, business, personal injury, and so on, cases heard by someone with a demonstrated interest in clients who are involved in matters that aren't just criminal cases. These parties are real people who need someone who can understand the law that matters to them, and also understand them and their circumstances.  

Robert Wilson-Hoss, Shelton

Shellfish lease

Editor, the Journal,

The proposed Taylor Shellfish aquaculture lease is a complex issue that requires careful consideration. One aspect that seems to be overlooked is the economic benefits that the lease would bring to the state and the local community. The lease would generate revenue from the products sold by the company, as well as the lease fee paid to the Washington state Department of Natural Resources.

DNR uses the lease fees from aquatic lands to fund the aquatic lands enhancement account, which supports public access and maintenance of recreational areas on aquatic lands.

The lease would also contribute to the production and export of goods, which is vital for the health of our economy. Many of our industries are based on services and imports, which create a negative trade balance and weaken our currency. We should support businesses that create value and export products, which improve our trade balance and strengthen our economy.

As a resident of Allyn, I respect the opinions of the Shelton community and their right to decide on this project. However, I think it is important to consider all the facts and implications before making a decision on this proposal.

Philip Wolff, Allyn

Letter policy

Editor, the Journal,

Editor Justin Johnson has a new letter policy. What problem did it fix? If newsprint's expensive, eliminate "Mary's Memoirs," a boring 1949 diary. Johnson claimed: "some writers present lies or misleading information," followed with "we don't fact check every letter." How do you determine statements are lies or misleading if no fact-checking? Most letters are opinions; the editorial page is called Opinion. If you don't want opinions, change the name. Dictionary defines opinion as a view, judgment or appraisal. Readers should read opposing opinions. People can make their own informed decisions when they are able to hear both sides. Thomas Paine said, "If you're afraid to offend, you can't be honest!" The Journal should support information sharing. Johnson prefers letters about local issues. We don't live in a bubble. There's likely fentanyl, manufactured in China and smuggled from Mexico, in Mason County. We are part of that world. Issues from Washington, D.C., and Olympia are important. Why limit letters to local issues? Why must we write letters to your scale of importance? That's censorship. Letters limited to 300 words won't reduce misinformation. The reverse is more logical; more detail helps define issues. It took 700 words to state your letters policy. No 300-word limit for you. 

Mr. Mullen wants the Journal to interact with our neighbors. Letters are popular yet this policy seems to discourage letters in the Journal. Newspapers are going extinct; witness The Olympian. Young people get their news from the internet. Most Journal readers are old-timers. Johnson's arbitrary rules limit information sharing. Let us decide what to read and write for ourselves; return to the previous policy.

Ardean Anvik, Shelton

Bible lust

Editor, the Journal,

...and those who danced were thought crazy by those who didn't hear the music.

We are all complicated creatures, each individual thinks their way of approaching life, and self-limiting exposure to ideas and modifying certain behaviors are much better ways than others' contrary ways of thinking. Ethics is often situational marinated in shades of gray and not always in black and white.

Many are now saying school kids shouldn't be reading books with salacious stories contained therein. Those who want to ban those books likely wouldn't and haven't spoken out publicly to demand that the Bible be taken out of circulation and censured for its salacious content too.

Example: Ezekiel 23:20 "There she lusted after her lovers, whose [bleep] were like those of donkeys and whose [bleep] was like that of horses."A great library has something therein to offend everyone.

Darrell Barker, Shelton

Editor's note: The following letter makes a claim that Judge Cadine Ferguson-Brown did not attend law school. According to a response by the Governor's Office, Judge Ferguson-Brown attended the School of Legal Studies at the University of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom from 1997 – 2000 and is a member of the New York and Washington state bar associations.

Ask questions

Editor, the Journal,

Why won't anyone ask Judge Cadine Ferguson-Brown the hard questions? Up until her appointment by Gov. Jay Inslee, she never did a civil trial in Superior Court. All she ever did before her appointment was immigration law and worked as a guardian ad litem, which you don't even have to be a lawyer to do. She never even went to law school. Her main qualification seems to be that her appointment checked boxes for Inslee.

Curtis Fosdick, Shelton