Nebraska politician sues God
September 21st, 2007 by Jeff
I’m not really “plugged in” to Nebraska politics yet. My excuse is that I’ve only been back for about three months. I do agree that I need to check out who my representatives are and get informed on local issues and all that jazz.
So anyway, apparently one thing I’ve been missing by not following local politics is this guy named Ernie Chambers, a state senator from Omaha. He’s been serving for many years and is quite the character. Some of my friends think he’s pretty cool. I myself don’t know enough about him to say what I think; my first impression is that he’s a bit of a whackjob. I do like that he rocks a t-shirt and jeans to the Unicameral, that’s pretty funny.
His latest stunt is filing a lawsuit against God, ostensibly to make a point about frivilous lawsuits.
Chambers sues God in protest of another lawsuit
By NATE JENKINS / The Associated Press
Monday, Sep 17, 2007 - 06:41:04 pm CDT
Fed up with the threats, tired of natural disasters, the state’s longest-serving state senator is using his legal muscle against who he says is the culprit — God.State Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha sued the Almighty in Douglas County District Court last week.
Chambers, who skips morning prayers during the legislative session and often criticizes Christians, said he filed the lawsuit to show that anybody can file a lawsuit against anybody. That, he said, was recently illustrated by a federal lawsuit he said triggered his lawsuit against God.
I’m all for cutting down on frivilous lawsuits, so I’m with him on that, but I don’t think this stunt is the best way to make the point.
Of course, there have been responses…
“God” responds to lawsuit, saying court lacks jurisdiction
By NATE JENKINS / The Associated Press
Thursday, Sep 20, 2007 - 09:02:14 pm CDT
A legislator who filed a lawsuit against God has gotten something he might not have expected: a response.One of two court filings from “God” came Wednesday under otherworldly circumstances, according to John Friend, clerk of the Douglas County District Court in Omaha.
“This one miraculously appeared on the counter. It just all of a sudden was here — poof!” Friend said. State Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha sued God last week, seeking a permanent injunction against the Almighty for making terroristic threats, inspiring fear and causing “widespread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth’s inhabitants.”
Chambers, a self-proclaimed agnostic who often criticizes Christians, said his filing was triggered by a federal lawsuit he considers frivolous. He said he’s trying to makes the point that anybody can sue anybody.
Not so, says “God.” His response argues that the defendant is immune from some earthly laws and the court lacks jurisdiction.
It adds that blaming God for human oppression and suffering misses an important point.
“I created man and woman with free will and next to the promise of immortal life, free will is my greatest gift to you,” according to the response, as read by Friend.
There was no contact information on the filing, although St. Michael the Archangel is listed as a witness, Friend said.
The whole thing’s a joke, on all sides. I don’t know whether to just laugh, or be irritated that our leaders are piddling around with this type of thing. I guess one positive way to look at it is that if they’re spending their time on meaningless stuff like this, then at least they’re not doing anything worse.