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Posted By: Frank Wakefield

This is my 13th year as a judge. I render judgments and sentences. I have the fortune of being a state court judge, not restrained by sentencing guidelines. (Although those federal guys do have a better deal than I when it comes to compensation, job security, and retirement.) I'm relieved that it is judges who do the sentencing, not some of you guys who've posted above. Figuring out a fine on a speeding charge isn't really very difficult. Adjudicating child abuse and making custody determinations can be quite difficult and troubling due to the uncertainties of the situations. Again, I'm relieved to know that you guys aren't doing that. And I probably would not excell as well as you folks in your professions.

Realistically, you'd be a bit better off if you paid attention to what you were buying. Don't blindly trust slab labels and then whine. If you're spending big bucks (to you) on a card, establish a return policy prior to the purchase. Try to think of an old card like you would a used car. If I sold a used car to someone, and they come back in a few weeks mad because the car had a replacement gas cap, would that void the deal?? Was I trying to defraud them???

I understand cards aren't cars. And I agree that someone who intentionally bleaches or "soaks, stretches, and trims" a card with the intentions of selling the card to someone as a card that is unaltered... that person would be committing fraud. But it is at worst a theft, a crime against property. Don't compare that to murder, manslaughter, rape, sexual abuse, or other offenses against a person. At least don't do that and expect to be taken seriously.

This thread was about REA's email... not about administering Star Chamber justice on anyone who does anything to a baseball card.