State Supreme Court Justices

* Nov. 3 is not only a crucial judgment day for women, it is also one for the Republican Party. As a young Republican woman, I have watched in horror as the extreme right has pursued a witch hunt of California Chief Justice Ronald George for his rulings on parental consent in teenage abortion. The pro-life line drawn in the sand threatens to take away from the people of California one of the most learned, moderate and fearless justices in its history. A Republican stripped from us because of his moderate pro-choice stance.

Without the voice and symbol of George--especially if Dan Lungren wins the governor’s race--the party will become a one-issue monolith. And we will find that, as Republicans, in our persistence to consume our own, we have proven ourselves too rigid, too monolithic and too poorly adaptable to have any meaningful place in California’s future.

For this party to survive, especially in California, there has to be room for pro-choice voices. If George is not confirmed on Nov. 3, the message will be loud and clear: Not only has the Republican stance on this issue alienated thousands of women, but even worse--the Republican Party has now become this issue.

JENNY JORDAN

Santa Monica

* Re “Yeas for the Justices,” editorial, Oct. 19: Do you really think that [California Supreme Court Justice] Stanley Mosk, an 86-year-old man, is qualified to do anything but sleep? That man is too old!

We need new blood on the bench.

ERNEST SALOMON

Santa Barbara