RE “Lawyers’ gender gap has its Exhibit A’’ (Page A1, June 8): From the bench at a recent hearing, Judge George Phelan says, “I’m wondering why there are not more female attorneys among us.’’ Does his question imply that parties who retain female attorneys will receive favored treatment, or that male attorneys will be disadvantaged against female attorneys? Parties have the absolute right to choose their own counsel. Their choice and motivations for doing so cannot be questioned by the judge. To do so implies a failure to be impartial.

Michael R. Coppock

Lincoln