Our legal system faces many troubles

I am not in a position to make a fair judgment regarding the guilt or innocence of former Gov. Ryan since I do not have knowledge of the detailed evidence presented at the trial.

Nevertheless, as a result of information drawn from detailed media reports, I must agree with the dissenting judges who concluded that the trial was a "cesspool of errors that turned the hearing into a travesty."

The recent trial of the athletes at Duke University, class actions against risk-taking, innovative companies, malpractice suits against skilled doctors willing to take difficult cases to save lives, all indicate the fragile nature of the current legal system.

Companies fail to bring life-saving drugs to the market. Individuals suffer emotional trauma that can last a lifetime, and badly needed, skilled physicians leave their practices.

There was a time when the legal profession was considered on an equal basis with the clergy and the medical profession as a repository of dedicated service and obligation to society. This is no longer the case, even though many individual attorneys do consider these elements in their practice.

There are many problems that contribute to these disturbing trends in the U.S. legal system. One major concern is the pay of judges who, with many years of study and experience, earn considerably less than movie stars and professional athletes -- a sad commentary on our values.

The media tends to report stories of trials with emphasis on the highly emotional aspects of the cases. Breaches of fair and equitable procedures in a trial are often given minimum treatment due to the potential of a lack of reader interest.

Congress has spent considerable time and effort in recent months evaluating the fair treatment of potential terrorists. It would be an act of great value if they spent greater amounts of time and energy in improving the domestic legal system.

Samuel A. Hess

Mount Prospect