Justice Byron White
How good of you to remind us of the contributions of Supreme Court Justice Byron White (“Restoring Balance to a Controversial Court,†editorial, March 20).
We especially appreciate your pointing out Justice White’s maturation from “ . . . a smart, progressive liberal . . . “ appointed by a Democratic President, “ . . . siding with the Warren Court majority . . . “ then adding:
“But as the years passed White moved sharply away from liberalism, strongly opposing abortion rights for women and a right of privacy for homosexuals, voting in support of voluntary prayer in public schools and against remedies for racial discrimination.â€
In answer to your query, “Do the passing of time and shifts in public opinion inevitably recast moderates as conservatives?â€
We are not so sure about the “shift in public opinion†causing the recantation of the moderate/liberal, but the normal, healthy course of maturation and enlightenment more often than not does bring about that very metamorphosis as it did in White.
T. BRUCE GRAHAM
Port Hueneme
