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.
DeKalb County State Court Judge Dax Lopez is up for re-election in the non-partisan portion of next Tuesday’s primary. You’ll remember Lopez as President Barack Obama’s nominee for a U.S. District judgeship last year.
Lopez is Republican, Jewish and Hispanic. Ultimately, his nomination to the federal bench was blocked by U.S. Sen. David Perdue, after anti-illegal immigration forces in Georgia pointed to Lopez’ past association with certain Latino groups. But his religion was a subtext in some of that criticism.
Lopez’ faith has come up again, but from the other side of the aisle. Specifically, judicial rival Roderick Bridges has put out the flyer below:
And if that's not enough, on his web site – which could use some copy editing, Bridges lists his supporters. Topping the column is "Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior."
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