Jack Hamilton, writing under the heading “Regarding executive order: Fact check, please” in the Feb. 17 Herald, covers several subjects of interest to him.

In the final paragraph of his thoughts, he appears to advise the journalists who work for the Herald to shut up. But before that he does seem to be uninformed as to what the four judges considered in ruling against the application of Mr. Trump’s executive order as it applied to seven majority Muslim nations some eight days before his letter was published.

First, for instance, is the view that the acts of a president can be reviewed by the judicial branch of government.

Secondly, the judges presented an opinion that strictly construed the sections of the Constitution having a connection to application of the order in the First and Fifth Amendments according to original intent.

Thirdly, Mr. Trump advised the nation that he intended to act in unpredictable ways, but having stated that he would ban Muslims when a candidate, he proceeded to act predictably when he assumed the office. As Judge Robarts noted, the executive order could not be supported by evidence of terrorist acts so the issue of national security as a reason for denying folks with green cards and with visas was not likely to carry in a higher court.

Apart from Mr. Hamilton’s letter, the nation now knows that Mr. Trump will not see those judges in court.

Mike Hattrick

Poulsbo