Guy running for judge in LA County legally changes his name to "Judge" in order to fool voters

[Dan Druff]

On the surface, the March 3 judicial race for Los Angeles County District 76 seems mundane and standard.

It features a prosecutor, Emily Cole, versus a former judge and attorney from another California county, Mike Cummins.

However, Cummins pulled a really nasty ballot trick I haven't seen before, and it's sadly legal.

Cummins submitted a name change request in San Luis Obispo County, which is about 200 miles northwest of Los Angeles. He asked for his legal name to be changed from "Mike Cummins" to "Judge Mike Cummins". As justification, he wrote that he wanted to "advance professional opportunities". Amazingly, the name change was approved, and apparently the judge who approved it didn't ask enough questions.

Cummins was last a judge in 2006. He retired then, and became a private practice attorney, before ending that career in 2017. Los Angeles County ballot laws required him to be listed as a retired attorney, rather than a retired judge, because he attorney was his last long-running profession.

This name change allowed him to be listed on the ballot as "Judge Mike Cummins", thus giving voters the impression that he's either an incumbent judge or an active judge elsewhere -- which of course isn't true.

Slick little scam, huh?

And amazingly, it's legal. Election officials tried to find justification to list him as "J. Mike Cummins", but could not find legal precedent to do so. All candidates have a right to be listed by their full legal name.

Indeed...




Cole has attempted to campaign against Cummins regarding this shady move. Not sure how effective it will be. Pretty amazing that one can get away with this.

I'll give the guy points for creativity. No fucking way I'd vote for him, though.

[BCR]

Didn’t Eddie Murphy make a movie where he moved to some town and ran for office because he had the same name as the recently deceased popular politician.. This reminds me of that.

[duped_samaritan]

Similar story, probably less sinister though.

Alexander Hamilton is suing Hudson County, New Jersey


Vernon Alexander Hamilton filed to run for the Board of Education as Alexander Hamilton.

Clerk rejected it so he sued and won then won the seat.

[MumblesBadly]

On the surface, the March 3 judicial race for Los Angeles County District 76 seems mundane and standard.

It features a prosecutor, Emily Cole, versus a former judge and attorney from another California county, Mike Cummins.

However, Cummins pulled a really nasty ballot trick I haven't seen before, and it's sadly legal.

Cummins submitted a name change request in San Luis Obispo County, which is about 200 miles northwest of Los Angeles. He asked for his legal name to be changed from "Mike Cummins" to "Judge Mike Cummins". As justification, he wrote that he wanted to "advance professional opportunities". Amazingly, the name change was approved, and apparently the judge who approved it didn't ask enough questions.

Cummins was last a judge in 2006. He retired then, and became a private practice attorney, before ending that career in 2017. Los Angeles County ballot laws required him to be listed as a retired attorney, rather than a retired judge, because he attorney was his last long-running profession.

This name change allowed him to be listed on the ballot as "Judge Mike Cummins", thus giving voters the impression that he's either an incumbent judge or an active judge elsewhere -- which of course isn't true.

Slick little scam, huh?

And amazingly, it's legal. Election officials tried to find justification to list him as "J. Mike Cummins", but could not find legal precedent to do so. All candidates have a right to be listed by their full legal name.

Indeed...




Cole has attempted to campaign against Cummins regarding this shady move. Not sure how effective it will be. Pretty amazing that one can get away with this.

I'll give the guy points for creativity. No fucking way I'd vote for him, though.

He changed his legal name to include “Judge” two years ago before running in San Luis Obispo County judgeship election. He might as well get as much mileage out that name-change as he can.

https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/l...194569759.html

[Dan Druff]

Didn’t Eddie Murphy make a movie where he moved to some town and ran for office because he had the same name as the recently deceased popular politician.. This reminds me of that.

Yeah I thought of that too.

"The Distinguished Gentleman" from 1992.

Mediocre movie, but yeah, this does indeed remind me of it.

[TheXFactor]

Democratic candidate Representative Tulsi Gabbard is now changing her name to President Tulsi Gabbard.

[Dan Druff]

BUMP

The trick didn't work. "Judge" Mike Cummins got crushed.

JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT Office No. 76
Candidate(s) Votes Percent
EMILY COLE (N) 579,769 83.26%
JUDGE MIKE CUMMINS (N) 116,565 16.74%