The judge who stole Christmas : a novel

Format:

Book

Title:

The judge who stole Christmas : a novel

Author:

Singer, Randy (Randy D.), author.

ISBN:

9781400070572

Edition:

First edition.

Publication:

Colorado Springs, Colorado : WaterBrook Press, 2005.

Physical Description:

217 pages ; 20 cm

Summary:

It starts innocently enough in the sleepy town square of Possum, Virginia. But it ends up as a spectacular national scandal: Can a federal judge outlaw Christmas? Thomas Hammond and his wife play Joseph and Mary in the annual live nativity scene. But a judge rules the display unconstitutional -- and a Christmas showdown ensues. Thomas refuses to abide by the court order. and ends up in jail. From the courtrooms of Virginia to the talk shows of New York City, the battle escalates into a national media spectacle. Caught in the middle is law student Jasmine Woodfaulk -- assigned to represent Thomas as part of her school's legal-aid clinic.

Subject(s):

Church and state -- Fiction.

Freedom of religion -- Fiction.

Genre:

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Silver Falls Library	IF SINGER	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Newberg Public Library	FICTION SINGER	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

A Yuletide free-for-all. It starts innocently enough in the town square of Possum, Virginia. But it ends up as a spectacular national scandal: Can a federal judge outlaw Christmas? Thomas Hammond and his wife play Joseph and Mary in the annual live nativity scene in their hometown. But a federal judge rules the display unconstitutional -- and a Christmas showdown ensues. Thomas refuses to abide by the court order…and ends up in jail. From the courtrooms of Virginia to the talk shows of New York City, the battle escalates into a national media spectacle. Caught in the middle is law student Jasmine Woodfaulk -- assigned to represent Thomas as part of her school's legal aid clinic. Whatever happened to peace on earth? Only a surprising series of events -- nearly as humbling and unexpected as the origins of the season itself -- can reconcile a stubborn father, a crusading law student and a recalcitrant judge. The Judge Who Stole Christmas,by acclaimed author Randy Singer, is a charming, warm, and thought-provoking Christmas tale that explores in a fresh way the real reason for the season.

Reviews (2)

Publisher's Weekly Review

This holiday novella?s premise is a Christmas-time court battle over a live creche scene set up in the town square of Possum, Va. Thomas Hammond loves playing Joseph in this creche, and he is determined to keep turning out for his role regardless of what the ACLU or a decidedly Grinch-like judge has to say about it. His resolve earns him the respect of some of his fellow church-goers, but it also lands him in jail. He is defended by Jasmine Woodfaulk, a third-year law student who sticks with the case even though its notoriety costs her a plum job at a top law firm in New York. By the end of this story, of course, folks who disagree about the constitutionality of creches manage to unite in the celebration of Christmas. Sometimes it is unclear when the author is aiming for satire and when he is playing it straight. For example, when Jasmine goes to argue her appeal before a three-judge appellate court, the one judge obviously on her side is an African-American Bush appointee conveniently named Judge Clarence. Then there?s Theresa, Thomas?s wife, who doesn?t seem to know what a cell phone is. Nonetheless, this fresh approach to Christmas inspiration will stand out. (Oct.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal Review

For Thomas and Theresa Hammond, playing Joseph and Mary in their small Virginia town's living nativity scene was supposed to be a reverential display of the Christmas story. That is, until Judge Cynthia Baker-Kline grants an injunction barring the crèche as unconstitutional. Thomas refuses to comply and ends up in jail until he will agree to honor the judge's order. Young law student Jasmine Woodfaulk has just been offered a high-paying job in New York City, but she commits herself to following Thomas's case through, even to the Supreme Court. The heavy conservative overtones and ample potshots at liberals will turn off some readers, and at times this legal drama reads more like propaganda than a Christmas story. Pass on this one. Singer fans would be better off trying his Christy Award-winning Directed Verdict. The author lives in Georgia. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.