The Trial of Santa Claus

For the 30th-straight year, Santa Claus is facing “trial” as part of the Troop 285 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge.

San Antonio police will arrested Santa on Thursday as he is handing out gifts at James Bonham Academy. He will be accused of violating a fictitious statute concerning the separation of church and state.

The trial is set for 9 a.m. Saturday, December 9th at the John H. Wood Jr. U.S. Courthouse before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry J. Bemporad. Members of Boy Scout Troop 285 will make up both the prosecution and the defense teams, and fourth-graders from James Bonham Academy will serve as the jury.

The prosecution has secured a conviction only once in the program’s history (it’s based on “Miracle on 34th Street”).