The feminist choice

I was disappointed to read your endorsement for Supreme Court ("Supreme Court: In a Duel of Two Top Jurists, It's Judge Melvin," Oct. 25). Although I agree with your editorial that gender balance is very important, I place a higher value on electing feminists regardless of gender.

While I appreciate that Judge Joan Orie Melvin has been active on the issue of domestic violence, she is not supportive of a woman's right to control her reproductive life. A woman's right to choose is a basic feminist issue. Her opponent, Judge Jack A. Panella, is endorsed by a major statewide feminist organization, the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Organization for Women. Judge Panella is involved in a wide range of community activities from United Cerebral Palsy to Easton Hospital to the Turning Point of Lehigh Valley, an agency that supports victims of domestic violence and their children.

Let's not be parochial in our choice (the other reason given for your endorsement) but vote for the best candidate. I urge all Pennsylvanians to vote for Judge Jack A. Panella for Pennsylvania Supreme Court; he is indeed an exceptional candidate, as you pointed out in your editorial.

CAROL McCULLOUGH
Westwood