You may remember that last month, a Tennessee magistrate forced a couple to change their baby's name from "Messiah" to "Martin" because "messiah" was reserved only for Jesus Christ. Well, yesterday, another judge ruled that Messiah can keep his original name.
At an appeal hearing in Cocke County Chancery Court on Wednesday, Chancellor Telford E. Forgety overturned Ballew's decision, finding that she acted unconstitutionally.
It took Forgety 30 minutes to overturn the magistrate's ruling. Forgety said that there is no basis in the law for changing a child's first name where both parents are in agreement about it. He also said that Ballew's decision violates the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
By agreement of the parents, Forgety ordered the child's name to be changed to Messiah Deshawn McCullough.
I'm surprised it took even that long for Forgety to throw out Ballew's order. She didn't even try to hide that it was based solely on religion.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has also filed a complaint with the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct. No word on how that's progressing.