Judge changes a baby's name against the mother's will due to religious reasons.

[ZombieHorde]

Tenn. judge changes infant's name from 'Messiah'; says it could put him at odds with people

NEWPORT, Tenn. – A judge in eastern Tennessee has changed a 7-month-old boy's first name to Martin from "Messiah."

Child Support Magistrate Lu Ann Ballew ordered the name change last week, saying Messiah is a title that has been earned by one person "and that one person is Jesus Christ."

According to WBIR-TV (http://on.wbir.com/1cDOeTY), the parents were in court because they could not agree on the child's last name. When the judge heard his first name, she ordered it changed, so the baby was "Martin DeShawn McCullough."

That name includes both parents' last name.

The boy's mother, Jaleesa Martin, says she will appeal. She says Messiah is unique.

Messiah was No. 4 among the fastest-rising baby names in 2012, according to the Social Security Administration's annual list of popular baby names.

Changing the baby's name strictly for religious reasons seems like a violation of the 1A to me.


http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/08/11/tenn-judge-changes-infant-name-from-messiah-says-it-could-put-him-at-odds-with/#ixzz2bi5ab5EH

[bravenak]

1. Ok.

I get it now. These people are just getting crazier. I thought it was me for a while today.

[NV Whino]

2. I cringe thinking of the nickname

I think the judge. Was legally wrong, but I applaud her effort.

[Squinch]

5. I don't. Messiah is an unusual but not unheard-of name among some latino families.

It is also a beautiful name.

The judge should mind her own damn business.

[MADem]

3. Moron on the bench, and morons before it as well. nt

[rurallib]

4. very succinct and accurate

[cbayer]

6. While I would hate to burden a child with this name, I agree with you that it's not

within the court's purview to change it.

Really surprising that it's one of the fastest growing names in the US, though.

[Gormy Cuss]

9. "Nevaeh" is the name that surprised me.

Heaven spelled backwards.

eta: I agree that it seems like the justice changin "Messiah" to Martin was a bit ridiculous.

[cbayer]

12. Never heard that one before.

But boy did I see some odd ones living in New Orleans. In some people's attempts to be original, they made some epic mistakes, lol.

[dem in texas]

7. What about the name Jesus

Jesus is a popular name for Hispanic males, I guess they better not go to Tennessee.

[MyshkinCommaPrince]

8. Not to be flippant...

Not to be flippant, but perhaps the kid has been rescued from a hellish grade school experience. The nickname "Messy" is just too obvious. Umm.

I don't like the idea of the judge changing the child's name, though, to be more appropriately serious.

[Scuba]

10. The judge is a moron.

And has Grace Slick heard about this?

[hrmjustin]

11. Oh Lord God in heaven!

That judge needs to be removed.

[rug]

13. There will be a second coming of Messiah after the appeal.

[ZombieHorde]

14. Ha! Good one! nt

[gopiscrap]

15. This judge is an asshat

and over stepped his bounds

[DrewFlorida]

16. That judge should be removed for ignoring the Constitution and imposing his religious judgement.

While I personally think the name is stupid, I stand up for a parent's right to name their children as they see fit. That judge obviously thinks his religion should trump the constitutional separation of church and state.

[Iggo]

17. Messiah's a nice name.

Fuck that judge.