SHOULD STEP DOWN

District Judge Thomas Gilbert was seen smoking pot at a Rolling Stones
concert in Detroit. When confronted by an eyewitness account, he was put on
"indefinite leave." The article in the Nov. 9 Record-Eagle questions when,
or even if, Judge Gilbert will be held accountable for his public
lawbreaking.

Judge Gilbert stated he took only "two puffs" of a marijuana cigarette at
the concert. Yeah right. This reminds me of a former president, also a
lawyer, who said he smoked pot but didn't inhale. This former president was
later impeached by Congress and disbarred in his home state for his many
other misdeeds. What's next, crack cocaine in the courthouse?

Judge Gilbert has apologized to everybody in the world except those who
should matter most - the voters who elected him and entrusted him with
fairly and impartially sitting in judgment of persons accused of crimes. He
has clearly betrayed that trust. The Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission has
said it would take months, if not years, before any action would be taken
against Gilbert. That is unacceptable.

Drug crimes are pervasive in northwestern Michigan. Thousands of marijuana
plants grown in cornfields in Leelanau County. Methamphetamine labs blowing
up in Cadillac. Shoot-outs at a local motel. Local drug dealers are even
using FedEx for deliveries (Record-Eagle, Sept. 8). Many of the most violent
crimes in our area, such as breaking and entering and armed robberies, are
directly related to illegal drug use. Judge Gilbert is unfit to hear any of
these cases.

Judge Gilbert will forever be tainted by this most unfortunate incident. He
needs to take responsibility for his actions and act in an ethical manner.
He has dishonored the courts and his profession. Now, he should do the right
thing. He should resign his judgeship and step down from the bench
immediately.

Rod Robison

Traverse City