LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

[February 2nd, 2005] Byrd Hunting

I think your "comic" strip in WW was completely inaccurate and distasteful [Local Cut, Jan. 26, 2005]. Geoff Byrd is one of the most passionate artists this city has seen in years! Geoff not only writes music truly from his soul but is such an amazing person both on and off the mic. For your publication to downright slam one of your own city's artists leaves much to be desired.

Simply, months from now, you'll look back on that mockery of a "comic strip" and regret you posted such idiocy.

Janette Carey
Battle Ground, Wash.

Not the Sid I Know

For six months last year, I worked for Sid Galton as his judicial clerk. During that time, I never saw him lose his temper, use any offensive language whatsoever, or berate counsel on either side of a dispute, civil or criminal. To the contrary, what I witnessed was a seasoned professional jurist treating everyone in his courtroom with respect and supreme courtesy.

The "Sid Vicious" you portrayed in your article [Jan. 19, 2005] was simply nowhere to be found in my experience. He is passionate about what he does, and he does not suffer fools gladly. Yet I saw him exercise extreme patience with the most exasperating criminal defendant, the inexperienced intern from the prosecutor's office, and the occasionally disorganized, rambling and inscrutable attorney. In his courtroom, Judge Galton was everything you would expect from a brilliant professional who has reached the pinnacle of his career. Not to mention funny, endearing and yes, quirky.

I ask you to consider what biases those you interviewed may have brought to the table, particularly disgruntled litigators or his erstwhile colleague from the workers'-compensation board. I was offended by the overwhelmingly negative tone of the portrait you painted of this admittedly complex individual, whom I count as a mentor and friend. Sid brings a very human and compassionate face to a profession typically regarded as remote, insensitive and uncaring; this was what every juror told me post-trial and what I observed in his courtroom.

Dana Busch
Southeast Portland

Bench Press

I wanted to express my appreciation to you for your article about Sid Galton ["Sid Vicious," WW, Jan. 19, 2005]. It is a long, long overdue exposé of Galton's judicial temperament-or, more accurately, lack thereof.

There are scores of attorneys in the field in which I practice, workers' compensation, who would echo the comments made by Galton's ex-colleague Bill Schultz. His appointment to the bench continues to be one of the most appalling moments of my professional life.

Jim Moller
Lake Oswego