D.A., JUDGES DON'T MAKE LAWS

In a Journal guest columnists' letter on May 29, Mr. George Ferrari and Ms.
Edie Reagan were highly critical of George Dentes, district attorney for
Tompkins County. Don't district attorneys swear, under oath, that they will
enforce the laws? Aren't judges responsible for deciding the fine, penalty
or punishment given to a convicted person?

If the decisions of the judges are governed by a law mandating what the
sentence or retribution for a specific conviction is to be, and, as Mr.
Ferrari and Ms. Reagan point out, the people (they don't say what
percentage) and the various organizations they mention, advocate reform of
the "Rockefeller Drug Laws," then do as Mr. Dentes suggested -- change or
repeal the law.

That isn't something he can do. On the contrary, his sworn duty, pure and
simple, is to seek conviction of those who break the law. He is there to
protect the public.

Mr. Dentes' suggestion doesn't sound like "nonsense"... What sounds like
"nonsense" is blaming him for things over which he and apparently judges
have no control.

John L. Hyde

Town of Ithaca