Judge [Douglas Ginsburg] had to withdraw his nomination for only one reason: he broke the law. Mr. [Robert Kaiser] would have us believe that the judge is the victim of societal schizophrenia vis-a`-vis the use of marijuana. Not only did Judge Ginsburg break the law, he broke it while he was giving instruction in the law and presumably presenting a role model for his students. Just how does one teach legal precepts by day and smoke an illegal substance by night? What Judge Ginsburg demonstrated by his admitted substance abuse was a cavalier disregard for the societal norms-called laws-he was supposed to be holding in the highest regard.

The quixotic and precipitous rise and fall of Judge Ginsburg is a sorry commentary on the moral bearings of the Reagan crowd. Judge Ginsburg, it seems, is unfit by reason of infrequent experimentation with marijuana. (Really, how shocking!) By contrast, his unwillingness or inability to discern the ethical conflict inherent in making prosecutorial decisions that could affect his personal investments apparently disturbed none of these pompous defenders of the moral fiber.

If I revealed that, after my ordination, while working in a previous ministry, I had experimented with marijuana, I would probably be removed from my current position-and rightly so. My previous actions while a moral leader of young people would call into question my current ability to be a credible moral leader. Judge Ginsburg's unethical and illegal actions while he was a teacher of the law damaged his credibility. WES MASON Burke