The Littlest God

THE LITTLEST GOD - SYNOPSIS

The California Supreme Court receives a petition for review from a person declared a frivolous appellant. When the judges review the file they fail to find any briefs. The missing briefs indicate an appeal had not taken place. And when they review the file further, they discover the court of appeal the case had originated from claimed to have taken the appeal in 87 days, a physical impossibility. Chief Justice Talcolm Powder is convinced it is just some sort of clerical error. He argues the case be returned to the appellate court where it emanated.

However, after returning the case to the court of appeal Justice Powder orders his clerk to bring him all the cases the California Supreme Court reviewed over the previous 6 months from the appellate court in question. He finds an inordinate number of petitions for review from that court appealed to the California Supreme Court. The outrageous decisions the California Supreme Court received from the appellate court where the frivolous appellant originated raises eyebrows. To make matters worse, the Chief Justice realizes the California Supreme Court actually upheld some of the outrageous decisions. Suddenly, Justice Powder comes to terms he has a corrupt court on his hands. After further research of the files, he determines Judge Reuben Ortotozo the ringleader since he is listed on ever decision as one of the three judges. Now he must decide how to handle the problem.

After thinking the situation over he understands he can’t turn him in since after all Reuben a judge, one of them; Justice Powder must protect his own kind. Besides, after careful consideration Justice Powder remembered with the California Supreme Court having reviewed the cases, he would draw attention to the California Supreme Court for not having turned him in sooner. The only alternative he can think of is to plant the name of Reuben Ortotzo in the mind of the governor as soon as possible, then force one of the current members off to create a vacancy. His motive is to get Ortotzo on the court where he can watch him. He hopes to curtail Reuben’s corrupt ways now an obsession. His two closest allies on the court the two oldest members, and both alcoholics.

Justice Powder’s plan works to perfection, but in the process members of the state senate judiciary committee discover Ortotzo’s corruption. They confirm him so they won’t make the governor look bad with his nomination. Besides, they know they don’t need a scandal involving the state’s highest court. The motivation? They fear it might undermine public confidence in the judicial system. Once Reuben is seated on the court it becomes obvious to the others of the California Supreme Court he is still doing business with his former colleagues at the appellate level. He now uses his place on the court to argue why their decisions should be upheld using esoteric logic which escapes everyone. He now has a dual profession, judge, and lobbyist. He also becomes a pain in everyone’s butt with his conduct. Oh, what to do about this man? When one of the alcoholic jurists’ mutters, “Oh I wish that man were dead,” she sparks an idea. The death sentence for Reuben Ortotzo is convicted of corruption and sentenced under special circumstances in absentia.

Because no public charges brought against justice Ortotzo, the court is forced to turn to the private sector. A hit contract is taken out, and the court’s problems with Reuben get worse as the assassin fails on repeated attempts. In the end six jurists are arrested for the attempted murder of Reuben. The irony to the situation is Reuben will still be on the court to hear their appeals.

The story also examines the baggage judges bring to the court.