Disrespect for Estudillo speaks volumes

**AWAITING VERIFICATION**

Am I the only one noticing the offensiveness in recent letters submitted by attorney friends of candidate Nick Wallace and the two retired judges?

It seems none of them can bring themselves to address the judge properly as “Judge” Estudillo.

Judge David Estudillo has been our Superior Court Judge for the past 13 months; yet throughout each of these letters, he is consistently referred to as “Mr. Estudillo.” Worse yet — Mr. Wallace has noticeably referred to him as “David” at various public forums.

These men, who clearly have a “club” mentality about our courts, want the public to listen to their opinions about what is best for the Superior Court — yet each of them is unable to extend normal professional courtesies to a sitting judge. Who has ever heard an attorney refer to a sitting judge as “Mr. _____” rather than “Judge ______”? And what judge, even those long retired, would publicly refer to a fellow judge as “Mister” rather than “Judge”? In contrast, notice that the letter-writing attorneys consistently refer to those two retired judges as “Judge” Sperline and “Judge” Jorgensen — yet can’t bring themselves to extend the same professional courtesy to Judge Estudillo.

Why do you suppose they feel free to demean Judge Estudillo in this way?

If Mr. Wallace and his friends feel they can disrespect and demean a sitting judge who is not a member of their “club,” should we not be concerned that Mr. Wallace, if he were to ascend to the bench and unseat Judge Estudillo, would disrespect and demean others?

One of the things we teach our children is that “you get respect by being respectful.” The behavior of these lawyers and former judges is disrespectful. Judge Estudillo treats everyone with respect. He has earned my respect and my vote.

Anita De Leon

Moses Lake