Your editorial in Thursday’s edition (“Must remove Estes from judgeship”) urging the removal of my client, Judge Thomas Estes, represents the height of arrogance and irresponsible journalism.
Apparently you now join the governor and Governor’s Councilor Mary Hurley as those who are better informed and more skilled to decide these issues than our Supreme Judicial Court that will hear this case on April 24. You might have considered a little notion called due process that is required by our Constitution, before issuing a call for permanent removal based on allegations.
And by the way, the matter before the SJC does not accuse the judge of sexual harassment. That allegation is contained in a federal lawsuit to which Judge Estes has not yet even had the opportunity to respond, not that such trivialities are apparently important to you. You have done your readers a tremendous disservice.
Judge Estes is one of the finest judges I have appeared before in my 38-year career. I know that many other lawyers would agree. I am proud to have him as a client and a friend.
David P. Hoose
Northampton