Jesus Apparently Cares A Lot About County Judge Elections

UPDATE: We've learned more about why Jesus has a role in this election... and it's pretty disgusting.

I'm Roderick Bridges and Jesus is my #1 fan! You can trust this awkward smile!

I’m Roderick Bridges and Jesus is my #1 fan! You can trust this awkward smile!

UPDATE: We’ve learned more about why Jesus has a role in this election… and it’s pretty disgusting. See below.

I mean it’s not like the world is dealing with a refugee crisis, ongoing wars, catastrophic climate change, human rights abuses, the threat of nuclear proliferation, political unrest, or terrorism — all incredibly important issues Jesus could maybe weigh in on. But no, he’s forgone all that noise and for some reason decided to take a side in the election for state court judge of DeKalb County, Georgia. At least if one candidate is to be believed.

Let me introduce you to the fine website of Roderick Bridges, running for the aforementioned judgeship. He wants to be “your judge” to the people of DeKalb County. On his website he lists those people that support his election — not official endorsements, mind you, because those might require unethical pandering. Community leaders, including pastors, educators, and Board of Ed members, that “support” Bridges are on the list. And of course, right there, holding down the #1 spot is Jesus Christ, whose occupation is listed as “Lord and Savior.” Such résumé padding from an apprentice carpenter.

Screen Shot 2016-05-20 at 9.11.11 AM

I think I’ve learned all I need to know about Roderick Bridges’s qualifications to be a state judge, don’t you agree?

But what are we to think if it turns out Jesus has backed a losing candidate? You may not have Donald Trump’s reflexive distaste for losers, but it cannot strengthen anyone’s faith to hear that.

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Or perhaps worse, what if it comes out that other candidates in the Dekalb County election are also supported by Jesus Christ? Maybe Jesus is like some divine version of the Koch brothers, playing both sides to get the result they really want. As if the Bible isn’t enough evidence that God really enjoys manipulating humans (I mean seriously, poor Job), now this state judge election comes along. Jesus Christ, master manipulator — that’s a hulluva image.

Update 05/20/16 11:59 a.m.: Okay, so we’ve gotten a little more context into Bridges’s motivations for listing Jesus as a supporter, and actually, it is kinda gross. It seems Bridges’s opponent, current DeKalb County State Court Judge Dax Lopez,is Jewish, and Bridges wants to make an issue out of it. As the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports:

You can take the measure of a judicial candidate by his law school. Or by his legal briefs, or by his treatment of jurors, colleagues, defendants and prosecutors. But the one thing we’re pretty sure you shouldn’t judge a judge by is his religion. The U.S. Constitution frowns upon it – and most judicial candidates understand this. But only most.

And Bridges also sent out this unfortunate flyer:
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I guess he forgot that Jesus was Jewish too.

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A Jewish judge’s rival makes DeKalb contest a matter of religion [Atlanta Journal Constitution]


Kathryn Rubino is an editor at Above the Law. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).