Dear FRONTLINE,

If what was reported happened, unreported, then America would indeed be what much of the world thinks of it: a crass meritocracy and a long, long way from a democracy.
But the fact that it HAS been thus reported, brings America back such a long way towards being a democracy.
If only a large preponderance of American people could have opportunity to see, and think about, this report ... then democracy would truly be alive and well in this country.

Thank you Mr. Moyers.

Graham Millar
Hilo, Hawaii

Dear FRONTLINE,

I find this report extremely disturbing. When the Founding Fathers envisioned our system of checks and balances, with respect to the Judiciary, I do not think they intended the 'checks' to be those made out for campaign contributions, nor the 'balances' to be those in a special interest's bank account.

Michael Letsky
Phoenix, AZ

Dear FRONTLINE,

I find it amazing that everyone finds it so hard to find a solution to such an easily solved problem.

Let all people and organizations give as much money to any person they wish to contribute to, but that money must be turned over to a central organization that then evenly divides all funds to each representative running.

This of course could only apply to Justices, not every political office because it is important for the people to speak, and if that is done with the dollar that is just the way it has to be. Majority rules.

Justices are different however. They should be given equal share to obtain critical evaluation by constituents based on their perception of "fairness for all."

Steven B. Mael
Madison, Wisconsin

Dear FRONTLINE,

Kudos to Frontline for examining this issue in your usual thorough fashion, but let's not rush to condemn the election of judges altogether. Judicial appoinments can be even more political, depending upon who appoints the judges and for what term. We must find a uniquely American system which removes money and politics from our judiciary, insofar as possible, while maintaining democratic influence.

Tom Hood
Oxford, Mississippi

Dear FRONTLINE,

Very well done. We could go a long way towards reducing the influence of money on the judiciary by distinguishing between the process by which a judge is initially selected and that judge's term of office. Any system that does not ensure that a judge will keep his office during good behavior is a system with judges who cannot, indeed should not, rule strictly on the merits. Such a system requires them to keep an eye of the politics of the case before them. The problem is not the judges or the courts. The problem is an electorate which not smart enough to understand the foregoing.

John White
Reno, NV

Dear FRONTLINE,

I am very concerned about money in court elections and in legislative elections. This frontline was a wonderful public service and it made a great difference to hear justices Kennedy and Breyer speak out on the money influence problem.

I feel that the writers of our constitution would be appalled if they could see how money influences our political system.

David Martin III
Pine Mountain Club, California

Dear FRONTLINE,

I am concerned about monetary influence on the judiciary but am appalled at birth injury case example you used in your show. Impacted shoulder and resultant injury at birth are not always predictable, avoidable or always treatable without injury even in the best hands.

Although the argument was about insurance coverage, your show implied anytime there is paralysis from birth trauma there has to be malpractice.

Ieva Bailey
Billings, MT

Dear FRONTLINE,

I live in Texas and I have always thought that Lousiana was the most corrupt state when it comes to the judicial process, until I saw tonight's episode of Frontline. Ever since I learned that our state elects its judges I have been very concerned, but to see how bad it really is makes one very uneasy. They teach us in school about checks and balances but then there is this system which is so incredibly susceptible to corruption; it makes our legal system seem like a joke.

Jeremy Gunn
Austin, Texas

Dear FRONTLINE,

As a law student at the University of Baltimore I am very sympathetic to the students of the Environmental Law Clinic at Tulane's plight. It is deplorable that justice is for sale, but not suprising. Politics no matter the forum or election are corrupted by money.

Wil Colquhoun
Glen Burnie, Maryland