Due Process

The article by Lincoln Caplan (“Three Wise Old Men of the Court,” Opinion, Dec. 18) dealt, inter alia , with the controversial Arizona vs. Youngblood case in which six of the more conservative Supreme Court justices led by Chief Justice William Rehnquist ruled that “destruction of evidence denies a defendant due process of law only if he can show ‘bad faith on the part of the police.’ ”

But by the same logic, withholding of evidence denies a defendant (shall we say Oliver North?) due process of law only if he can show bad faith on the part of the President.

Perhaps the chief justice has achieved more than he expected.

ALAN GRIFFITHS

Los Angeles