In his guest commentary, "Asheville's drug culture has a crippling effect on city and region," (AC-T, Feb. 2), Councilman Carl Mumpower wrote that legislators have the obligation to "renew an impaired judicial system" that has "become a mockery of justice" caused by the lack of adequate funding.

In his two-column commentary in the Aug. 29 edition, and emphasized again on Sept. 11, he continues: "Impaired with antiquated technology and absurd manpower constraints, what can be called a system of misjustice (sic) that a crack dealer must be caught and convicted three or more times to get any meaningful jail time." This inmate of the courthouse since 1971 offers a different view. Budget constraints The North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts every year submits our base or expansion budget requests for technology, manpower and other needs to the General Assembly as does every other branch, department and agency of state government. Legislators, required to balance the budget, do the best they can over the objections of those who contend we can run government on no or less money.

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