During a rally last Friday in San Diego, Donald Trump spent several minutes criticizing a federal judge who is presiding over an ongoing class-action lawsuit against the Republican presidential candidate.

Judge Gonzalo Curiel, according to Trump, is “a hater of Donald Trump.”

“We’re in front of a very hostile judge,” Trump said. “The judge was appointed by Barack Obama, federal judge. Frankly, he should recuse himself because he’s given us ruling after ruling after ruling, negative, negative, negative.”

Then this came out of Trump’s mouth: “What happens is the judge, who happens to be, we believe, Mexican, which is great. I think that’s fine.”

Three quick facts for the record:

Judge Curiel was born in Indiana.

Trump’s pledge to act more “presidential” remains an aspiration.

Between now and November’s general election, life won’t be especially pleasant for elected Republicans. In a normal political season, politicians set aside personal and policy differences to support their party’s torchbearer. This, however, is not a normal year.

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, comes with lots of baggage, including insults, harsh rhetoric, unsavory business practices and a lack of understanding of domestic or foreign policy. Endorsing Trump is a big ask. Outbursts like the one on Friday when Trump harshly criticized a federal judge only make things more difficult.

Of course, there are exceptions, including Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, who was an early supporter of Trump. The two share a mutual interest — cracking down on people who are in the country illegally. It appears that is enough for Sessions to look past Trump’s stated belief in outlandish conspiracy theories, his promotion of unworkable military policies and his inconsistent and unworkable policy ideas. That’s not to mention the personal insults and bullying aimed at everyone who offends The Donald.

Sessions sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee and is a former federal prosecutor and Alabama attorney general. In other words, Sessions is a man who has dedicated much of his professional life to the service of the U.S. legal system.

Given this history, Sessions should publicly criticize Trump’s unfair and undignified verbal attack on a judge. Otherwise, Alabama’s junior senator risks associating himself with this sort of ridiculous behavior.

Online – www.annistonstar.com