Opinion: Who are the people who looked the other way at Alex Kozinski?

To the editor: How many of judges on the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals knew what was going on and did not report their former colleague Alex Kozinski’s alleged misconduct? (“9th Circuit Judge Alex Kozinski steps down after accusations of sexual misconduct,” Dec. 18)

More importantly, how many female judges in the 9th Circuit knew, looked the other way and did not report Kozinski despite the fact that it was their sisters suffering the abuse? Women in high government positions are complicit, and often participate, in the discrimination against women and children perpetrated by judges, district attorneys and police officers.

Patricia Barry, Los Angeles

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To the editor: Where is Kozinski’s presumption of innocence? Like everyone else, including Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby, isn’t that his right?

It matters not that there is more than one accuser. He is entitled to the same presumption for each allegation.

How ironic that a federal judge is a victim of a rush to judgment and the rough justice of a newspaper editorial.

Wayne Johnson, Santa Monica

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To the editor: I had great respect for Kozinski, but his pathetic non-apology makes clear that he still doesn’t get what he is alleged to have done wrong.

Saying that women face “special challenges and pressures” in the workplace implies that his female clerks are fragile flowers who don’t want to look at porn, but his male clerks are fine with it.

No, your honor, your male clerks may feel culturally constrained from saying that your behavior bothered them, but no one should have to look at their boss’ porn at work, unless that work actually involves porn.

Kay Gilbert, Manhattan Beach

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