Judge — February 20, 1932 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Judge" - Political Cartoon Analysis This six-panel comic titled "JUDGE" depicts a satirical narrative about judicial corruption or bribery. The central figure—a portly judge—is shown interacting with various parties who appear to be offering him money or bribes (visible in panels showing cash/boxes). The progression suggests the judge's progressive moral compromise: he initially refuses or hesitates, but gradually accepts payments. By the final panel, he's shown playing chess—possibly symbolizing how justice becomes a calculated game rather than principled deliberation. The caricature style and exaggerated physique emphasize the judge's greed and moral weakness. Without visible dates or specific references, the cartoon likely critiques turn-of-the-century judicial corruption, a common satirical target in American magazines of that era. The artist's signature reads "Hendrickson."