A judge in Tennessee changed a 7-month-old boy's name to Martin from Messiah, saying the religious name was earned by one person and "that one person is Jesus Christ."
Child Support Magistrate Lu Ann Ballew ordered the name change last week, according to WBIR-TV (http://on.wbir.com/1cDOeTY). The boy's parents were in court because they could not agree on the child's last name, but when the judge heard the boy's first name, she ordered it changed, too.
"It could put him at odds with a lot of people and at this point he has had no choice in what his name is," Ballew said.
It was the first time she ordered a first name change, the judge said.
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.
The judge in eastern Tennessee said the baby was to be named Martin DeShawn McCullough, which includes both parents' last name.
The boy's mother, Jaleesa Martin, of Newport, said she will appeal. She says Messiah is unique and she liked how it sounded alongside the boy's two siblings -- Micah and Mason.
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"Everybody believes what they want so I think I should be able to name my child what I want to name him, not someone else," Martin said.
Ballew said the name Messiah could cause problems if the child grows up in Cocke County, which has a large Christian population.
"The word Messiah is a title and it's a title that has only been earned by one person and that one person is Jesus Christ," the judge said.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/52731842/ns/l ... gjioZJatOI

"Everybody believes what they want so I think I should be able to name my child what I want to name him, not someone else," Martin said.
Ballew said the name Messiah could cause problems if the child grows up in Cocke County, which has a large Christian population.
"The word Messiah is a title and it's a title that has only been earned by one person and that one person is Jesus Christ," the judge said.

Though the name Messiah doesn't do the kid any favours, Martin is legally correct, IMO. In this instance the judge is imposing a Judeo-Christian perspective which, IMO, is unconstitutional.

Seems like there was another thread in which a guy wanted to name his kid Hitler.....seems like he received a lot of condemnation for this from many...

Personally, I think the judge was wrong, but what do I know? I do know more than one Mexican kid named Jesus...

Seems like there was another thread in which a guy wanted to name his kid Hitler.....seems like he received a lot of condemnation for this from many...

I don't recall anything about a judge *ordering* a name change in that case.

It's obvious this magistrate doesn't recognize the separation of church and state ~ and I'd be very surprised if she has the authority to personally force a name change ~ I hope the mom does appeal ~

Did anyone else find the "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." comment in the op really startling? ~

Sooz

This kind of "bullying" is where the ACLU shines ~ ~ Sooz

TPMLIVEWIRE
ACLU: Judge Can’t Change Child’s Name From Messiah
Tom Kludt - 7:19 AM EDT, Tuesday August 13, 2013

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is crying foul at a Tennessee judge who ordered last week that a 7-month-old boy's name be changed from "Messiah" to "Martin."

Jaleesa Martin and the father of Messiah attended a child support hearing last Thursday in Cocke County, Tenn. to settle a dispute over their child's last name. But Child Support Magistrate Lu Ann Ballew handed down a ruling on the first name as well, ruling that the boy can go by "Martin DeShawn McCullough" to encompass the mother and father's name. Ballew told t.v. station WBIR that the "word Messiah is a title and it's a title that has only been earned by one person and that one person is Jesus Christ."

Hedy Weinberg, head of the ACLU in Tennessee, told USA Today that Ballew "does not have the right to impose that faith on others." Weinberg said the ACLU will offer to provide assistance to Martin, who has said she will challenge the ruling.

"Messiah" was one of the five fastest growing male baby names between 2011 and 2012, according to the Social Security Administration.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/aclu-judge-cant-change-childs-name-from-messiah?ref=fpb

If I were the parents, I would first tell the judge what he can do with the assigned name - and then I'd change the kid's name to Mephistopheles.

That's a great idea, Sid. Mephisto for short. Though I still think the best name for a new child is "Senator".

I'm very pleased this magistrate is facing a disciplinary hearing for her obvious religious bias ~ and I'm thinking ALL of her decisions and orders should be reviewed ~ each and every decision and order ~ Sooz

Tennessee judge who barred baby name ‘Messiah’ rebuked by conduct panel for religious bias
By George Chidi
Saturday, October 26, 2013 17:10 EDT

A magistrate court judge in Tennessee who forced a couple to change the name of their child from Messiah to Martin has been cited for religious bias by a state ethics panel and will face a disciplinary hearing.

Lu Ann Ballew, a child support magistrate in Cocke County of eastern Tennessee, had been settling a dispute about child support and the last name of Messiah Deshawn MCCullough, the child of Jaleesa Martin, and Jawaan McCullough. Neither parent had expressed interest in changing the child’s first name.

“At the conclusion of the hearing, [Ballew] ordered that the child’s name be change to Martin Deshawn McCullough,” a three-judge panel of the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct noted in a report Wednesday citing her for probable misconduct. Ballew’s statement supporting the name change filed by her with the order on August 13, 2013 said that “This court finds that it is not in the child’s best interest to keep the first name, ‘Messiah’. ‘Messiah’ means Savior, Deliverer, the One who will restore God’s Kingdom. ‘Messiah’ is a title held only by Jesus Christ.”

The order sparked outrage, both by the parents and more broadly by groups viewing it as an unwanted intrusion of religious views by the court. The parents appealed. Telford E. Forgety, Jr., chancellor of the Fourth and Fifth Judicial Districts of Tennessee, held that Ballew’s ruling was unconstitutional.

The state board finding charges Ballew with failing to promote confidence in the judiciary and failing to uphold the law without bias or partiality through her actions.

Now Ballew will face a hearing panel of the Board of Judicial Conduct in Tennessee within 60 days. She has 30 days to answer the board’s charges.

Reuters noted that Messiah was the 387th most popular name for boys born in the United States in 2012, based on applications for Social Security cards, and that 762 parents applied for boys named Messiah last year, more than double the 368 applications made in 2011.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/10/26/tennessee-judge-who-barred-baby-name-messiah-rebuked-by-conduct-panel-for-religious-bias/

While I don't agree with any Christian reasoning for opposing the name, I do think the judge is right when she says "It could put him at odds with a lot of people and at this point he has had no choice in what his name is".

This borders on mistreatment. Not physical but it could be mental abuse. What if a parent wanted to name their child "Shithead" or "Asskicker"?

The judge may have ruled based on religious reasons and that would be wrong, but if included in her ruling was concern for the child I see nothing wrong with it.

This is but one of many problems that have arisen in a free society run amuck.

You raise a valid point, John ~ if this magistrate stopped at "have you considered this could cause your child future problems?", I might not have a problem with it either ~ but she has NO LEGAL AUTHORITY to force a name change ~ for me, since hundreds of other kids were named "Messiah" within the last few years with no legal intervention, this magistrate's bias is all the more obvious ~

Sooz

Here's an update ~ JUSTICE SERVED ... at least, this time ~ ~ Sooz

Tennessee Court Fires Judge Who Wouldn’t Let Parents Name Their Baby ‘Messiah’
By Nicole Flatow on February 7, 2014 at 9:00 am

In August, a Tennessee couple appeared before a child support magistrate judge to resolve a dispute over the baby’s surname. But Child Support Magistrate Lu Ann Ballew took it upon herself to order that the seven-month-old baby’s first name be changed from “Messiah” to “Martin,” because that name should be reserved for Jesus. New court documents reveal that Ballew was fired Friday, after being cited by the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct for inappropriate religious bias.

“The word Messiah is a title and it’s a title that has only been earned by one person and that one person is Jesus Christ,” Ballew said at the time of the order, reasoning that the child would face difficulties in a heavily Christian town.

On appeal, a court held the name change unconstitutional, as a clear violation of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. Ballew will still face a disciplinary hearing even after her removal.

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/02/07/3262881/tennessee-court-fires-judge-let-parents-kids-messiah/

So glad to read this update.