Tenn. judge: Parents can name their baby 'Messiah'

WBIR-TV, Knoxville, Tenn.

NEWPORT, Tenn. — A Tennessee judge reversed a ruling Wednesday ordering a mother to change her 8-month-old's name from "Messiah."

The boy's mother, Jaleesa Martin, and father could not agree on a last name, which is how they ended up at a child support hearing in Cocke County Chancery Court last month.

MORE: ACLU says Tenn. judge can't ban 'Messiah' baby name

Child Support Magistrate Lu Ann Ballew ordered the baby's name be "Martin DeShawn McCullough." His name included both parents' last names but left out Messiah.

"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 said.

On Wednesday, Chancellor Telford E. Forgety Jr. overturned Ballew's decision, ruling that the lower court acted unconstitutionally. He said the lower court violated the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution, and added that the court's purpose was to determine the last name of the child, not his first name.

Jeleesa Martin's attorney said they appealed Ballew's decision for two reasons: the mother and the father agreed on the first name, and the decision was unconstitutional.

"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," said Martin.

The child's name is now Messiah DeShawn McCollough. McCollough is the father's name.

Martin said she's relieved.

"I'm just happy — I really don't have nothing to say. I'm just glad it's over with," said Martin after the ruling.