Judge Joseph Simmons

Joseph Simmons is a judge that indirectly saves Jason from a destructive life and indirectly plants the seeds of guidance in his life, in the 1995 movie New Jersey Drive.

He was portrayed by Roscoe Orman.

In this scene, Jason is being sentenced for his role in joyriding stolen cars. In many ways he's a father figure (Jason never had a father) before a executor of justice, He's like the God of the Bible -- a God of justice, but also one of mercy and second chances.

It's in his explanation as to why he chose to spare him that we see his true intentions: "Now let me just add this. I've seen far too many young men, such as yourself, come before me in these last 12 years since I've had the privilege of sitting on this bench. Far too many young men. Our society tells us these young men are criminals, hoodlums, animals. What I see everyday are confused children trying to find their way through a harsh and unforgiving world." Those are powerful words.