Book Review: The Judge Who Stole Christmas

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Judge Who Stole Christmas     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Randy Singer
Class/Genre:   Fiction   Legal Setting   Religious Fiction   Christianity   Thriller
WaterBrook, Oct 2005, $10.95

The ACLU filed in federal court that Possum, Virginia was violating the separation between State and Church with its annual Nativity gala. Resident Thomas Hammond who plays Joseph in the Manger show is subpoenaed to appear in the Norfolk Federal Courthouse. The University legal aid clinic assigns law student Jasmine “Jazz” Woodfaulk to “represent” Thomas in the courtroom though he is only a witness. Federal Judge Cynthia “Ichabod” Baker-Cline rules that the annual live Possum, Virginia nativity scene in the town square is unconstitutional. Thomas Hammond and his wife who play Joseph and Mary in the gala ignore the ruling as he is irate that the government will not allow the celebration of Christmas. For disobeying the court order, Thomas is held in contempt and jailed.

The case soon receives national media attention as the TV and radio talk shows focus on Thomas spending prison time for his beliefs in honoring the nativity as more sensational to the media than the wider issue of separation of state and church vs. religious freedom.

With the recent Supreme Court rulings on this topic, THE JUDGE WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS is a timely insightful look at the Constitution and the interpretation of the issue of public support to a particular religious theme. The story line grips the audience once the case comes before the Ichabod as readers obtain a deep understanding of the issues. Though the climax is perhaps a bit too smooth, fans of tales that dig deep into deep constitutional, religious, and social issues will appreciate this fine legal thriller.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner