NY Times - Letter to the Editor

New York Times
Published: June 30, 2008

"Report Assails Political Hiring in Justice Department" (front page, June 25) documents what we had feared: a partisan administration that perverted a department respected for the quality and fairness of its lawyers.

One of the greatest thrills of my career occurred when I was accepted in the Justice Department's Honors Program in 1974. I practiced with lawyers who understood that the obligation of trial attorneys was to serve the public interest as well as their clients. We were so proud to address the court with "Your Honor, the government submits."

I trust that government lawyers will again be able to represent the public interest rather than the partisan views of the party in power.

Barrie Goldstein

Washington Depot, Conn., June 25, 2008

The writer was a trial attorney in the Civil Division, Justice Department, 1974-79.

Conde v. Town of Sharon: update. On behalf of a landowner, Attorney Barrie Goldstein has appealed the ruling of the federal district court. She stated that “private property is sacred and must be protected by due process from governmental overreaching.” A federal district court judge recently held that a landowner was not entitled to due process when the Town of Sharon refused to allow the construction of a gate.

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Ms. Goldstein represents clients across the country primarily in central Connecticut, including Danbury, Waterbury, Torrington, New Milford, Bridgeport, Litchfield, Washington Depot, Norwalk, Hartford, Bristol, Roxbury, Hamden, Meriden, Milford, Naugatuck, New Britain, New Haven, Stamford, and Westport as well as individuals and small companies in New York City and other towns and cities in Fairfield, New Haven and Litchfield counties.