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Complaint filed against judge who changed baby’s name

By: Associated Press//August 15, 2013//

Complaint filed against judge who changed baby’s name

By: Associated Press//August 15, 2013//

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seven-month old Martin DeShawn McCullough being held by his mom Jaleesa Martin. A judge in eastern Tennessee changed the 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." (AP Photo/Heidi Wigdahl)
Seven-month-old Martin DeShawn McCullough is held recently by his mom, Jaleesa Martin. Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation has filed a complaint against a  judge in eastern Tennessee who ordered the boy’s first name changed to Martin from Messiah. (AP Photo/Heidi Wigdahl)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Wisconsin-based nonprofit association of atheists and agnostics says it has filed a complaint against a Tennessee magistrate for changing a baby’s name from Messiah to Martin.

The Freedom from Religion Foundation sent a letter to the Board of Judicial Conduct on Wednesday accusing Child Support Magistrate Lu Ann Ballew of violating the state’s code of judicial conduct.

At a paternity hearing last week, Ballew ordered a child’s name changed from Messiah DeShawn Martin to Martin DeShawn McCullough. Martin is the surname of the child’s mother, while McCullough is the surname of the child’s father.

In her order, Ballew explained the change by saying that “‘Messiah’ is a title that is held only by Jesus Christ.”

Ballew did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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