THE WEALTHY GET PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT FROM COURTS

Re. Jan. 14 editorial, "Supreme Court lets judges judge":

My son Chad Davis was sentenced the same day as Kenneth Zimmerman. I saw
the unhappy face that Judge McDade wore as he had to hand down the sentence
on Kenny and Chad due to our system guidelines.

My son Chad received 24 years for so-called evidence that was all hearsay.
Does this stop anything in the future with drugs? I doubt it. To put
someone behind bars in an overpopulated facility with no rehabilitation at
all, what good does this do? We have people walking the streets who have
committed rape, murder and child abuse, etc.

My son worked the program requested by the system while waiting for his
hearings and sentence. He stayed clean, without any problems. He worked a
job faithfully, and he supported his child, who now is being supported by
public aid. That makes a lot of sense, doesn't it?

Our system is not fair, by any means. It all boils down to who you are and
how much money you have to pay for an attorney. If my son had walked into
the courtroom with Johnny Cochran or F. Lee Bailey, you think he would have
gone to jail? I doubt it.

Toni D. Davis

Pekin