In 2007, Nebraska state senator Ernie Chambers sued God. His lawsuit sought “a permanent injunction ordering God to cease certain harmful activities and the making of terroristic threats.” According to the mortal plaintiff, God had caused “fearsome floods, egregious earthquakes, horrendous hurricanes, terrifying tornadoes, pestilential plagues, ferocious famines, devastating droughts, genocidal wars, birth defects, and the like.” The lawsuit was absurd, but that was the point. By suing God, Chambers hoped to make a political statement: That a court should be required to hear a case, no matter how frivolous it might be. “The Constitution requires that the courthouse doors be open,” he said, “so you can’t prohibit the filing of suits. Anyone can sue anyone they choose, even God.” In August 2008, Chambers got his day in court. In a 4-page decision, Douglas County Court judge Marlon Polk dismissed the lawsuit because God’s home address was unlisted. Since the deity couldn’t be properly summoned, the case could not move forward. “Given that this court finds that there can never be service effectuated on the named defendant, this action will be dismissed with prejudice,” wrote Judge Polk.
