This is not to excuse what Polanski did, but in view of all the allegations of judicial misconduct and relentless pursuit of publicity on the part of the original judge, it seems disproportionate to call down all the rigor of our judicial system on Polanski's head when there are certifiable world-class criminals who will never get the book thrown at them, nor the pamphlet, nor even the leaflet.

Exactly. And the cost to the California tax payer on this is going to be huge. It's six to nine months minimum of extradition hearings in Switzerland alone all on the public nickle.