14 DAY TRIAL // A couple from Tennessee have been forced via court order to change the name of their baby.
Mother Jaleesa Martin has named her child “Messiah,” WBIR Newport reports. The boy's entire name had been Messiah DeShawn Martin, but it has now officially been changed to Martin DeShawn McCullough, which includes both his parents' surnames.
Judge Lu Ann Ballew at Cocke County Chancery Court on Thursday has explained the religious connotation of the term.
“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 says.
“I was shocked. I never intended on naming my son Messiah because it means God and I didn't think a judge could make me change my baby's name because of her religious beliefs,” Martin responds.
The Child Support Magistrate also adds that the child could suffer from bullying growing up. Tennessee is a predominantly Christian state. She has told the court that this is her first time changing a child's surname.
“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,” Judge Ballew notes.
However, Ballew was asked about children that bear the name “Jesus,” which could fall under the same category.
“Well, I thought about that. [...] That's not relevant to this case,” she argues.
Martin has two other children, Micah and Mason. Her youngest is now seven months old.
“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,” she says.
Since Jaleesa is not happy with the decision, she has filed an appeal. She is due back in court before the Cocke County Chancellor on September 17.