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I MUST CONGRATULATE

Stephanie Mencimer on her interesting and well-researched piece on the D.C. courts, “The Imperial Court” (1/12). It’s the kind of arduous journalism that renews my sense of confidence in the Fourth Estate. As a journalist myself, my press-badged hat is off to your fine—and intrepid—scrivener.

I never quite understood, however, the validity of the rationale for exempting the courts from the normal processes of democratic government. At the very least it suggests a distrust of republican principles in general; at most it smacks of elitism and a vestigial racism that is tolerated by the District government. Perhaps this should be addressed before clamoring for statehood.

Arlington, Va.

via the Internet