US judge changes baby's name from Messiah to Martin

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
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So much for the separation of religion and gov't in TN.
The term "separation of Church and Gov" means something different than many believe. It means Church won't be the Gov. It doesn't mean that Gov can't use Church belief or systems within Gov.
 

WLDB

Senate Member
Jun 24, 2011
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She stated that it was a title. The fact that she added on her opinion doesn't change the fact that she stated there was law supporting said opinion.

She didnt cite any law. Mason is also a title and the name of one of this person's kids.
 

karrie

OogedyBoogedy
Jan 6, 2007
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She didnt cite any law. Mason is also a title and the name of one of this person's kids.

She stated that it is a title.

The fact of the matter is, there are naming conventions backing up her reasoning for striking 'Messiah' from the name she was being asked to decide on for him.
 

DaSleeper

Trolling Hypocrites
May 27, 2007
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U.S. Law Name Requirements
Fortunately, in the U.S. there are no laws that inhibit parents from naming their children whatever they so choose; or for that matter, no laws stopping an adult from changing his or her name to whatever he or she so chooses. The U.S. merely requires that each person have a name so that person can be clearly identified from another person. Each state varies in the amount of time a parent has to fill out and return the birth registration form.
However, just because there is no law restricting the name you choose to call your child that doesn't mean you should go ahead and christen him or her Mac Google or Cherry Coke or Dallas Mavericks or Emeril or Obama or Mater or Michael Jackson or any other pop icon, technology of the times or brand name.
While a person can have the same name of a famous person (dead or alive) or brand name it might cause difficulties for that person with such a name if there is scandal surrounding that brand or celebrity. There could even be issues with things as simple as trying to get an email address or social security card, etc. What may seem funny, ironic or representative of certain ideals or trends at the time of naming the child may not be appreciated by the so-named child as he or she grows to childhood, puberty and adulthood.
________________________________________________________________________
While looking this up......
I found a site on the subject.... who's header should be interesting to a member here ;-)

8 Countries With Fascinating Baby Naming Laws | Mental Floss
 

karrie

OogedyBoogedy
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Good to know! Thanks DaS.

Personally I still have no sympathy for parents so dysfunctional that they had to bring a judge in to name their kid, when they don't like the name the judge decides on.
 

L Gilbert

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The term "separation of Church and Gov" means something different than many believe. It means Church won't be the Gov. It doesn't mean that Gov can't use Church belief or systems within Gov.
Exactly, mon ami. TN gov't cannot use a belief, regardless of the numbers of its adherents to influence a gov't decision. This judge is as good as a lawyer for the Sharia.
 

karrie

OogedyBoogedy
Jan 6, 2007
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Exactly, mon ami. TN gov't cannot use a belief, regardless of the numbers of its adherents to influence a gov't decision. This judge is as good as a lawyer for the Sharia.

Family law judges use their personal moral code to make all manner of decisions. She was told to decide this kid's name.

Honestly, have you never heard names you'd change if you could? I'd change Messiah too, not for religious reasons, just, common sense ones. I also have, on the list of names I'd change for kids I know, if it were my right..... 'Bane', and 'Kale'.
 

DaSleeper

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May 27, 2007
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Good to know! Thanks DaS.

Personally I still have no sympathy for parents so dysfunctional that they had to bring a judge in to name their kid, when they don't like the name the judge decides on.
There was no link in the OP but using google I found that the parents had an argument over the last name....The judge went beyond what was asked of her .....non?

Oops....found the link....didn't spot the different colour of the link
 

L Gilbert

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Family law judges use their personal moral code to make all manner of decisions. She was told to decide this kid's name.
Ah, so they can buck the law. Interesting.

Honestly, have you never heard names you'd change if you could?
You bet.
I'd change Messiah too, not for religious reasons, just, common sense ones.
I'd have never named one of mine that in the first place.
I also have, on the list of names I'd change for kids I know, if it were my right..... 'Bane', and 'Kale'.
An old time friend of the family refused to be known as "Glendine" so she completely ignored anyone who called her that. So, even to sports officials, she was known as "Snooky". She slacked off a bit as she got older. (Vernon Museum and Archives).
 

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
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We never gave my daughter a middle name. No issues so far, when people ask how they are supposed to know who she is from the other's with the same name she says "I'm the one with no middle name."
 

SLM

The Velvet Hammer
Mar 5, 2011
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Yep, which is very plain and normal compared to what Frank Zappa named his daughter: Moon Unit.

Don't forget about Dweezil.

Funny you should say that. I mean WLDB? Was kinda hoping it was an acronym. :D

I'm sure it is, I always thought it sounded like radio station call letters though, lol.

WLDB-Easy Rock :D

Personal opinions have no place in a courtroom, a Judge should base his/her decision on "legal" opinion!

Absolutely, personal taste and legal opinion are two completely different things. I'm betting Mom wins that one on appeal.
 

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
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Exactly, mon ami. TN gov't cannot use a belief, regardless of the numbers of its adherents to influence a gov't decision. This judge is as good as a lawyer for the Sharia.
Jewdication Sharia.. it's time for something new.

What would Ganesh do?
 

damngrumpy

Executive Branch Member
Mar 16, 2005
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Even the judges are crazy in Jesus Land USA she should mind her own business
the family should take the issue to a higher court. This is really too much and it
makes you wonder why these people want to be taken seriously
 

gerryh

Time Out
Nov 21, 2004
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Even the judges are crazy in Jesus Land USA she should mind her own business
the family should take the issue to a higher court. This is really too much and it
makes you wonder why these people want to be taken seriously


who are "these people"? Looking in the mirror again?
 

karrie

OogedyBoogedy
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There was no link in the OP but using google I found that the parents had an argument over the last name....The judge went beyond what was asked of her .....non?

Oops....found the link....didn't spot the different colour of the link


I guess it just seems dumb to me from start to finish, so anything the judge comes up with is, well, bound to not be nearly as moronic as the parents.
 

SLM

The Velvet Hammer
Mar 5, 2011
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I guess it just seems dumb to me from start to finish, so anything the judge comes up with is, well, bound to not be nearly as moronic as the parents.

I think there's more than enough "moronic" to go around in this case.

But since being stupid isn't illegal, the judge was out of line. Just my opinion.
 

DaSleeper

Trolling Hypocrites
May 27, 2007
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I guess it just seems dumb to me from start to finish, so anything the judge comes up with is, well, bound to not be nearly as moronic as the parents.
Francophone Canadians have the right idea.....I have four names to pick on my birth certificate....and different documents such as health cad, driver's license use different names for initials ....thank goodness we're defined by numbers instead of names :lol:
 

Omicron

Privy Council
Jul 28, 2010
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Francophone Canadians have the right idea.....I have four names to pick on my birth certificate....and different documents such as health card, driver's license use different names for initials ....thank goodness we're defined by numbers instead of names :lol:

Okay, that's kind of mental, and I'm not sure why, but somehow it doesn't surprise me that such could be the case in Quebec.

In any case, the reason I launched the OP was because of something that I thought was ironic about what is supposed to be the difference between the judicial system of the States versus Canada.

Specifically, I thought American judges were bound by "Civil Code", wherein, even when their common-sense knows that a particular decision might be unfair, if a lawyer can make a logical deduction from the premises of existing law, then the judge has to accept that deduction... plus it gets further bound by a requirement to follow precedents (personally I think obligation to precedents is insanely dangerous... it's a roundabout through-the-back-door way for judges to become legislators of laws that cannot be changed).

Canada is supposed to be judged by "Common Law", which means a judge evaluates a case according to the social and moral expectations of the people according to the standards of the day.

What that means is, technically, in Canada a judge is supposed to have the right to do something like overturn a kid's name and force a renaming, whereas, technically, in the US, a judge is supposed to judge strictly according to the law, regardless of common sense.

Because the judge was American, the only way I can see her getting away with it would be if there's a precedent, perhaps her state only, allowing for a judge to force a renaming, so if I was the lawyer for the appeal, the first thing I'd look for is a precedent, such that if none exists, then I'd insist the original decision be tossed out.

Not that I can't see the original judge's point: Would *you* want to live with a name where the abreviated nickname is Messy?

Something I've noticed about the States versus Canada is that in the US there's lots more people with hippy parents who got names like Harmony, Rainbow, Thunder, etc. I even met a family where the four kids were named Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter...

... I'm guessing the mother was using marijuana medically when she delivered.
 
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Tecumsehsbones

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Mar 18, 2013
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First, the U.S. is a common-law country.

Second, your definition of the common law is. . . bizarre. Not without some truth, mind, but weird.
 

Omicron

Privy Council
Jul 28, 2010
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First, the U.S. is a common-law country.

Hmm... okay... that's not what I read, and it worked in a negotiation with some Chicago lawyers, but I guess I need to dig a bit deeper, which I will now do since you made your statement, but, if you've got a link that cuts to the chase, that would be nice.

Second, your definition of the common law is. . . bizarre. Not without some truth, mind, but weird.

What's so weird about it?

In any case, and since we're on the topic... what are your feelings about judges being obligated to "precedents"?