LETTERS: Judges should be appointed, not voted in

Having moved to Nevada years ago, I've noticed articles on a regular basis about judges in trouble or even violating the law themselves. When I lived in Minnesota, I used to think it was too political to have the governor appoint a replacements for a retiring or resigning judge, even though when that judge's term ended, the post would be up for a vote. Seldom would any appointed judge lose the subsequent election, and in fact, very few even had opposition.

The governor would have a committee vet the judicial candidates, and that committee would then make recommendations to the governor. Voters, on the other hand, often have no clue about those they elect. They vote for who has the most signs or who looks the best.

I have come to the conclusion that the appointment system I used to question is actually far better in seating quality judges than the present system in Clark County and Nevada. One only has to read the newspaper to realize the present method doesn't function in a way that provides the best possible judges.

Ron Bolin

Henderson

Silence on solar

I had rooftop solar panels installed by SolarCity, but have not been connected to the grid yet. I too am disgusted with the Public Utility Commission's net metering decision, but even more perturbed with the silence from our elected officials who were most vocal in getting citizens to go solar — especially Sen. Harry Reid.

Why weren't any members of our congressional delegation, or at least representatives of their offices, at recent meetings supporting those of us who signed up for these programs? The silence is deafening.

Bill L. Wilson

Henderson

Tragic resolution

Reading the article on Deborah Sena's guilty plea ("Woman enters plea as victims stand with defense," Saturday Review-Journal), I became so angry and frustrated about the plight of Sena and those children that I felt the need to speak out. I was most insulted with prosecutor Mary Kay Holthus' comment that the victims' statement supporting their mothers was "not unexpected. We see kids all the time who love their abusers."

What does that mean? That you don't look at each case individually? That all cases are the same? And just because the kids love their mothers, they are going to lie to protect them? But the prosecution got what it felt is justice. Does it matter that, according to court testimony, Deborah Sena and Terrie Sena were abused over and over by Christopher Sena, and they may have stayed in that house to protect those kids as best they could, no matter the price to them? And it seems they are paying a very high price.

How did Ms. Holthus know what those kids would say about their mothers? Did she read in a book somewhere that abused kids do that? Did anybody listen to those kids? They probably need their mothers now more than ever, because there are times, no matter how old you are, when you just need your mother. Or was that the little pittance of time the prosecution allowed visiting by lifting the no-contact order on Debora Sena? How generous, and I am sure in the best interest of those children.

The logic of the district attorney's office never ceases to amaze me.

Kelly Tanner

Las Vegas

In support of Cox

As a Cox Communications subscriber, I hope my cable company held the line against KLAS-TV Channel 8 and its Texas parent Nexstar in the battle over subscriber fees ("Channel 8 returns to Cox after weekslong dispute resolved," Thursday Review-Journal online). If Cox entirely gave in to Nexstar, I foresee all the other local stations licking their chops in anticipation of future subscriber fee increases, which will only lead to higher monthly cable bills.

I would think KLAS would be more concerned about explaining to its advertisers that for the past week, they were reaching 48 percent fewer customers.

Charlie Mack

Las Vegas