McCaskill, Blunt should help get judicial nominees Senate votes

Understandably, the editorial "The defiant one" (Jan. 5) predicts that "federal judicial appointments will go nowhere, leaving 86 unfilled vacancies in the 11 federal circuits and the District of Columbia at the trial and appeals levels, with sitting judges straining under ever-mounting caseloads and backlogs."

In fact, Senate Republicans repeatedly blocked consensus judicial nominees long before President Barack Obama's executive branch appointments that the editorial discussed. Justice delayed is justice denied, as obstruction has resulted in unprecedented federal judicial vacancies.

Sens. Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill, however, support Missouri judicial nominees Mary Phillips and Brian Wimes, who are among 19 awaiting floor votes.

After the Senate left until late January, Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee said about his state's nominee: "There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't have confirmed him before we got out." Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., stressed the need to fill his state's judicial vacancies: "We need people in these seats soon. I certainly hope we don't have to wait until after the election."

These recent statements from very conservative Republican senators suggest that Mr. Blunt and Ms. McCaskill could work with Mr. Lee, Mr. Toomey and others to ensure floor votes for committee-approved judicial nominees.

Glenn Sugameli • Washington, D.C.

Staff Attorney, Judging the Environment, Defenders of Wildlife

Dangerous situations

In the article "Deadly force, little review" (Jan. 8), reporter Jennifer Mann goes to great lengths to report on the amount of shooting-related incidents by St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers. What she conveniently failed to mention, not surprisingly, is that St. Louis is reported to be one of the most dangerous cities in America.

Even the Post-Dispatch has admitted from past news stories that city police officers routinely are assaulted with firearms and other deadly weapons. A reasonable person who is aware of this should be able to do the math, understand the consequences if the officer doesn't make an immediate decision and then accept the reason for the response the officer chose to take.

Mark Chambers • Arnold

Failed by system

Regarding "Beaten by thugs, system" (Jan. 12): The dismissal of charges against teenagers accused of a attacking a man is incendiary. Could they not have been certified as adults? A 13-year-old girl believes she cannot be protected from them, and she most likely is correct. The legal system of the city of St. Louis has failed all of us: Matt Quain, the girl and citizens who might become knock-out targets.

I have visited and lunched with friends in the South Grand area for many years. I will reduce my risk of being targeted there. I will avoid the area, its merchants and its restaurants. Clearly, this failure of justice will result in neighborhood decline. Worse, it emboldens seven people who have no respect for the life of others.

Richard Wagner • Highland

More than the motions

I read with interest the editorial "Teachers matter" (Jan. 10). I recently retired after teaching for 42 years in three St. Louis-area high schools, public and private. Everyone in education knows intuitively that good teachers make a huge difference in reaching and changing the students they teach. Good teachers teach to their students' needs and interests and use the subject matter as a tool for reaching their students. It takes great effort to be a good teacher and hours of planning, grading and learning outside of the classroom.

In the large St. Louis County public high school where I taught, about 75 percent of the teachers were good to excellent, and about 25 percent of the teachers just went through the motions with their students — taught them little and inspired them less. So, how do you get rid of a teacher who isn't reaching his or her students? The editorial calls for more "rigorous assessments" of teachers but doesn't get into any details.

I suggest that the biggest roadblock to having better teachers in our public schools is the education establishment itself. You can start with the teacher education requirements from the state Legislature, teacher education faculty at local universities and teacher unions.

Consider the Teach for America program, which brings in motivated young college graduates to teach for two years. The negative reaction from the educational establishment is well-known. Weaker teachers with tenure and their union representatives feel threatened. Certification requirements block a dynamic new teacher from getting into the system.

I'd like to see the Post-Dispatch take on the specific roadblocks that our educational establishment puts up to removing weaker teachers in a fair and timely manner.

James Day • Chesterfield

Debt collection by the state

Regarding the editorial "Attaching bodies in Illinois" (Jan. 12): This goes on every day in the local courts in the form of child support collection. I believe that the non-custodial parent owes every penny of the child support laid out in the divorce settlement.

However, if a company is owed money by a customer for unpaid work, it is forced to incur the cost of collection of that debt (although the costs may be added the debt owed). Unpaid child support is collected every day at the local courts by the state's attorney offices with the help of the Illinois Department of Public Aid. They use taxpayer-funded courts and attorneys to collect debts. The state uses any and all means available to collect those funds, including suspending drivers licenses and professional licenses, similar to the "debtor prison" mentioned in the editorial.

It is hard to believe that anyone is proud to be involved in the Illinois government.

Mark Penrod • Shiloh

Clean up Missouri

Regarding the editorial "Cowardly lions" (Jan. 12): The state should do everything possible to get the payday loan industry out of Missouri.

I am appalled at the payday industry in Missouri. In Ballwin, we have several stores that must fall into the payday loan category. These businesses rank similarly with meth labs and prostitution. The legislature should clean up the state of Missouri.

Paul Mallery • Ballwin

Listen for freedom

After the Jefferson County Council voted on a time limit on public comments at our meetings, I paused to reflect and remembered an experience I had last year ("Jefferson County will limit public comments," Jan. 11).

On July 2, I was asked to present a proclamation from our new council to Marine Cpl. Justin McLoud, 23, formerly of Cedar Hill. While defending our freedoms in Afghanistan, he lost both of his legs and one arm after he stepped on a bomb. When he was wheeled into the American Legion hall, it was all I could do to keep my composure, as the tremendous price this young Marine had paid for our freedoms was evident.

I made a trip recently to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, where my father rests, along with thousands of other defenders of freedom, some of whom paid the ultimate price for our freedoms.

I have made no personal sacrifices for the freedoms guaranteed me by the Constitution of the United States. I was elected to serve the citizens of the fourth district of Jefferson County as their county councilman. The small amount of time I sacrifice to serve is nothing compared to what others have sacrificed. For the County Council to limit the speech of citizens clearly is another nail in the coffin of freedom.

Charles Groeteke • Barnhart

Jefferson County councilman