I sat and watched in dismay as Beth’s siblings poured their hearts out to Judge Bruce Clark asking him to render justice to Randall Painter, the man guilty of the hit-and-run accident that resulted in the death of their sister. It appeared that Judge Clark was indifferent to their pleas as he looked down at his desk, riffling through papers, rather than meeting their eyes and seemingly ignoring a request from the family to “just look at Beth’s picture,� which was visibly displayed in the courtroom.

On the night of the accident, Randall Painter showed arrogance and irresponsibility by allegedly breaking several laws — drinking under age, driving under the influence, running a red light, committing a hit-and-run accident and, finally, concealing evidence by having his car washed and detailed the next day.

Judge Clark had an opportunity to act responsibly, on behalf of the people of Ventura County, on Friday. He even commented that “no judge would want to be in his shoes.� The fact is that Judge Clark was wearing his “own shoes� Friday afternoon and disregarded his duty to act with justice. His leniency gave Randall Painter no more than a slap on the wrist relative to the crime with which he was charged. The judge referred to him as “a knucklehead,� giving the impression that Mr. Painter acted more as an adolescent rather than as a 20-year-old man.

My heart goes out to Beth’s family, good and forgiving Christian people.

— Yvonne C. Graczyk, Ventura