Lawyer who sought to challenge the trial of Jesus by Pontius Pilate
Actors take part in an Easter procession that re-enacts the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Photo/Reuters
Today being Easter Monday, I recalled some interesting religious lawsuits that have been filed over time. Most of the suits are rather hilarious given that the defendants are either godly entities or persons who cannot be found.
The crucifixion of Jesus 2000 years ago has elicited interesting litigation from a Kenyan lawyer. In 2007, the lawyer filed a constitutional petition through the Friends of Jesus, whom he was representing.
This suit was brought against the Roman Emperor Tiberius, Pontius Pilate, Annas, Jewish chief priests, elders and teachers of the law, King Herod, Italy and Israel.
The defendant sought to challenge the trial of Jesus Christ, including the mode of questioning during the trial, the sentence handed, and the substance of the information used to convict Jesus.
The petitioner also wanted to know what crime Jesus had committed and what law had been used to convict him. The suit papers were served to both embassies of Italy and Israel who had been named as defendants.
In a sworn affidavit, the petitioner said since he discovered the wrong that was meted out to Jesus he sought to immediately have these wrongs redressed. He further said that Christians world over wanted this issue resolved as soon as possible.
The suit did not succeed but that did not deter the lawyer from taking the matter to the Hague against the same defendants. At the Hague, the petitioner wanted Italy and Israel to be held responsible for the death of Jesus. The claims did not succeed.
The devil has been sued several times. One person brought a civil rights action against a defendant known as Satan and his staff. He argued that Satan and his staff deliberately placed obstacles on his path, causing his downfall.
He also alleged that the defendants had caused him a lot of misery on numerous occasions and these amounted to a breach of his constitutional rights.
The case failed as the plaintiff was not able to serve the defendant with the suit papers. It would be interesting to see what kind of claims the plaintiff was seeking against the defendant and if they were capable of being executed by a court of law.
Others have brought suits against God. Ernie Chambers file a suit seeking a permanent injunction against God for what he claimed were God’s harmful activities. The court dismissed the lawsuit as there was no address for service and there was no way the defendant could be notified.
The court agreed to hear both matters only if the plaintiffs could serve the other party or produce them in court.
Another American got famous for his awkward patent application seeking a monopoly over the use of godly powers.
The applicant, Christopher Rollers, specified in his patent application that he wanted exclusive right to the ethical use and financial gain of godly powers over planet earth.
He claimed that science and technology was being assisted by godly powers. The applicant began filing law suits against parties he thought were using his godly powers, that is infringing on his patent.
The patent office had a very difficult time trying to classify this patent.
