Supreme Court Selections

Those that urge Gov. Pete Wilson to put “ethnic politics” behind him in making a selection for the state Supreme Court, and not consider ethnicity in choosing a candidate, are being shortsighted in their vision of the California political landscape.

Uelmen is entirely correct when he states that the Supreme Court “decides profound questions of public policy” and that a diversity of judicial viewpoints will produce rulings that are more acceptable to a diverse society. If Gov. Wilson does make ethnicity or gender a factor in his selection of a Supreme Court justice, he will ensure that the state can respond to the needs of growing, politically active, minority populations who will demand their “fair share” of justice. I would also add that Supreme Court selections are not completely based on merit anyway; candidates are also selected on the basis of their political leanings and affiliations. No doubt there are qualified candidates whose political views are acceptable to Wilson.

Wilson has a chance to impact the future of state government in a dramatic way and forge a coalition of registered voters who care and can identify with state government by making race and gender a factor in his decision. He can also be responsive to his own political needs by selecting the candidate whose views are acceptable to him. Wilson’s decision will certainly have a bottom-line impact on voter participation in this growing state.

PAUL WILSON

Carson