Submitted by Charlton Stanley (aka Otteray Scribe), Guest Blogger
Last August, this blog had the story of Cocke County, Tennessee child support Magistrate Judge Lu Ann Ballew who arbitrarily ordered parents to change the first name of their seven month old child. Jaleesa Martin and Jawaan McCullough had decided on their child’s first name, but were not able to agree on whether his surname should be that of his mother or his father. It was Judge Ballew who ordered the parents of seven month old Messiah McCullough Martin they had to change the child’s first name and change his birth certificate. Judge Ballew opined, “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.”
In a rambling interview with local television, Judge Ballew tried to explain her reasoning. The reporter asked her what if the child had been named Jesus, a popular name in the Spanish speaking community. The judge stammered, finally declaring that to be irrelevant. The reporter did not press the issue and ask about the use of Mohammed/Muhammed by many Islamic families. Her answer to that would have been…..interesting. Here is the interview of Magistrate Judge Lu Ann Ballew with a reporter from a local TV station. This is almost painful to watch.
Jaleesa Martin and Messiah’s father, Jawaan McCullough, appealed Judge Ballew’s order to Cocke County Chancery Court. Chancellor Telford B. Forgety heard the case, and only needed 30 minutes to find Ballew in fatal reversible error and that her ruling was unconstitutional. Judge Ballew had ordered the name change the first week of August. The appeal to Chancellor Forgety went through with warp speed, and within six weeks, on September 18, her opinion had been reversed and rendered. Chancellor Forgety did what the parents had asked Judge Ballew to do in the first place, and that was to help them decide on the surname. The child’s name will be Messiah McCullough, which is the father’s surname. Judge Ballew was never asked about the first name, but took it upon herself, sua sponte, to order the parents to change it and have the birth certificate changed because their choice of a baby name offended her religious sensibilities.
Three days ago, Judge Lu Ann Ballew was charged with judicial misconduct. The charges were filed Wednesday by a three-member investigative panel associated with Tennessee’s Board of Judicial Conduct. The formal charges against Child Support Magistrate Lu Ann Ballew say she failed to promote confidence in the judiciary or uphold the law without bias or partiality.
The full filing is at this link. PDF warning, it may load slow.
Judge Ballew not only displays an astounding ignorance of the First Amendment, but of the historical and etymological meaning of the word “Messiah” itself. The word “messiah” is the English translation of the Hebrew term masiah [jyiv’m], which is derived from the verb masah, meaning to smear or anoint. When objects such as wafers and shields were smeared with grease or oil they were said to be anointed; hence the commonly used term was “anoint” when grease or oil was applied to objects or persons by Israelites and non-Israelites alike. Kings and other notables were anointed, for example. Even in modern day baptisms, it is common practice for the priest or minister to anoint the child or baptized person with oil. Therefore her assertion there was only one “messiah” was dead wrong.
To add another thumb in the eye of Judge Ballew, the Social Security Administration says that in 2011, the name Messiah was the 633rd most popular name for boys. In 2012, it was 387th most popular for baby boys. That 246 position jump made Messiah the fourth fastest growing baby name for boys in the U.S.
Judge Ballew, now the defendant in the ethics case, has thirty days to respond, or a default judgment will be entered against her by the ethics panel.
We now will wait and see how this plays out. I used to write a series of stories I called, “Judges Running Amok.” I may have to revive that. There is so much material to work with and so little time.
Help please, I had a comment swallowed. Thank you for your anticipated assistance.
Juliet, It’s had to believe that would happen in a public school. Call Freedom From Religion and Anne Laurie Gaylor will get their minds right. Sounds like she might need some muscle w/ her. Seriously, that’s what she does. Some of her crusades are Carey Nation like and over the top, but this is what that organization lives for and does best. They’re in Madison, Wi. I see around town sometimes.
It’s not just Tennessee. I’m so worn out with the fundies inflicting their beliefs on the rest of us. Last year, my severely autistic 12 year old was taught The Lord’s Prayer at school. This week, my autistic four year old came home with a New Testament in his backpack. The Gideons have been invited into our school district to distribute Bibles to elementary students. I’m over it. I’m in a 95% Republican Kentucky county and these people make me insane. We’re literally moving to get away from the oppressive religiosity.
Okay Otteray…..
To the rest of ya’s all – Hee Haw Haa (Haas)
I’m starting a new series of Jokes and Joking as of today!
(my B’day present to me for Thursday).
“IF you are a Judge – then you must be a corrupt’nik”
If you sit behind a bench, and wear a dark robe;
within nothing on underneath – Do NOT Disrobe in open court!
If you worked for Monsanto, have a wife who does deals for you on the side, have sex in NYC clubs with other legal eagles and seek to preside on the U.S Supreme Court – You might be a corrupt’nik
If you own billions of dollars in casinos, openly bribe foreign officials, fund Newt & RMoney both, and freely admit you’re seeking a “friendly” US Attorney General for your $100 million Citizens United type venture; because you believed your MitTwit could beat the Non-Caucasian with the funny name.
You are a DUMB corrupt’nik!
My name does not relate to religion or television perps. So … how does my name fit into this equation?
Nothing new. I’ve dealt with more than one judge that was self-serving, narcissistic scum. Only one made the correct decision. Their sti+ stinks whether they like to admit it or not.
The name Jesus (Hey-sues) is not relevant to this case, said the Judge, but HER religion is?
Separate HER religion from HER Governmental job, please!
Don, There was a good NFL football player named Lawyer Milloy. I often make reservations under the name Dr. Spinelli. You get better treatment. Made me consider naming one of our kids, Doctor. But, I never even proposed it to my wife. No way!
I’ve always wanted to name a child Authorized Personnel so that they could enter all doors marked “Authorized Personnel Only.” I bet this judge would force a name change to Unauthorized Personnel. I hope her title gets changed to “former judge.”
Not my favorite Johnny Cash song.
nick spinelli 1, October 26, 2013 at 4:31 pm
“Forget it Jake..it’s Tennesse.”
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nick spinelli 1, October 26, 2013 at 4:35 pm
It’s Tennessee, there must be some incest stories or hillbilly feuds.
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It is more likely that bigotry has more to do with it than “Tennessee”.
A Tennessee court immediately reversed the decision and the judge is defending herself against charges.
Or Jack Mehoff, he comments here sometimes. I actually love black first names although they have spun out of control. When I was a juvenile probation officer I had a kid named, Fleetwood, on my caseload. At least he didn’t have to always spell it like kids w/ ‘hood names today.
“This is almost painful to watch.” – OS
True dat.
Some of the pain I felt while watching it was the absolute clueless of the Judge as to the reality of what she was living.
Parents have done much worse than Messiah in naming a child. What about news commentator, Chrystal Ball, or attorney Ronald McDonald?
It’s Tennessee, there must be some incest stories or hillbilly feuds.
I will try to stay abreast of developments in this case.
Laser, the judicial misconduct is for bringing disrepute to the judiciary. The facts of this case hit the international press when she made her ruling a couple of months ago. When a lower court judge in a rural county makes a ruling so awful it goes viral around the globe within a day, that does reflect badly on the judiciary. Of course she is not the only one. There is a lot of material to work with for future stories.
“Forget it Jake..it’s Tennesse.”
As fer the judges running amok – I’ve petitioned you to write about Her Honor Walrath stating she doesn’t want to hear about fraud on the court; as she concluded that she needed to get back to Tweeter.
Hope all is well Otteray.
Blouise;
Judge’s responses are usually held in confidence.
WOW.
As one who was raised a Christian and learned that he quite probably had yiddish roots through his grandmother who died when my mom was born; I find this issue – on either side of the religious spectrum (‘traditionalism’) – to be absolutely absurd.
Like the press report states, others chose names akin to their beliefs; and vast numbers would be in a state of flux as per their chosen naming as “Jesus” (most often pronounced “hey Zeus”).
That being said, I’m not sure the judge should be charged with Judicial misconduct – unless there’s a history of abuse of powers. (Unless it was going on TV that they are out to “charge” Her Honor for).
I’m very glad to see this particular injustice is being tackled at its root. Hopefully you will keep us informed as I would very much like to read her response to the ethics charges.