The Feb. 2 editorial following the Inquirer series "Disorder in the court" offered a four-point mandate for reform: merit selection of judges, strengthening the Judicial Inquiry and Review Board, a more reform-minded bar association and, finally, public participation in a court-watching program.
The Citizens Crime Commission supports that agenda, and I agree with your basic contention that, unless this is the kind of judiciary we want, "the constituencies must join together to demand change now."
However, I take issue with your statement that court watching has not been tried here. The crime commission has, for the last 10 years, operated citizen volunteer court watches. On an average of once a year the commission has put trained volunteers in Philadelphia courts to "keep an eye" on various issues.
