Welcome to the Judge John Hodgman podcast where Baylif's Dave Shumka,

Graham Clark, this week, this is the sound of a raffle.

Stephanie files suit against her friend Sweet.

They are both members of a community service group that often uses raffles for fundraising.

Stephanie thinks members of their group should be prohibited from buying raffle tickets,

but Sweet has no problem with it.

Who's right? Who's wrong? Only one man can decide.

Please rise as Judge John enters the courtroom and presents the obscure cultural reference.

And at that, Judge John Hodgman stood still with raised eyebrows and stern eyes

that I could meet the better now that he knew the worst.

Then with a shrug, he resumed his walk, and for some minutes neither of us spoke,

but in his handsome, unmoved face, I read my fate and death warrant,

and with every breath I cursed my folly and my cowardice in coming to Judge John Hodgman at all.

Because he had been so kind to me, I had dared to look for kindness from him now,

because I was ruined, and he rich enough to play cricket all the summer and do nothing for the rest of the year.

I had factuously counted on his mercy, his sympathy, his help.

Dave and Graham, swear in the litigants, please.

Please rise and raise your right hands.

Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,

so help you God or whatever? I do.

Do you swear to abide by Judge John Hodgman's ruling, despite the fact that half the time Judge John Hodgman says raffles,

he actually means waffles?

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