ADMITTED WRONGDOING

To editor Bill Thomas and others who feel it their duty to publicly lambaste
Judge Gilbert:

Tom did a dumb thing, but who hasn't? Can most of us say we've never broken
the law, even if it was nothing more than a speeding ticket? Tom's
punishment should fit the crime, not cost him his job. I've witnessed
several elected officials drive drunk. Drunk driving isn't as sensational as
marijuana, or we'd be reading about it more often.

Tom is not perfect, but he's not the callous dopehead depicted in Bill
Thomas' Nov. 10 letter from the editor. Tom was advised to immediately seek
counseling, which is not the same as "holing up" or having a "comfy chat" in
a "feel good counseling session," as Thomas wrote. Mr. Thomas obviously
doesn't know Tom Gilbert, or he wouldn't accuse him of hiding out. Unlike
our former president, Tom admitted his wrongdoing and didn't try to snake
out of the question by pretending he didn't inhale.

I've known Tom for 26 years. I've seen him mature from a green college kid
to a thoughtful, moral, complex man. Tom considers human error as well as
the facts when deciding a case, and that makes him a fair judge. He wasn't
working while at that concert. For a brief moment, he forgot he was supposed
to be perfect. Who among us in positions of responsibility wouldn't like to
lay down that yoke, or in this case a robe, for just a little while?

You're spurring this issue because it's good for your bottom line, whether
it's with readers, listeners, or the people next to you at the cocktail
party. Tom's a good person and a good judge, and I'm proud to know him.

Mary Dillon

Grawn