Judge cited with violations in baby Messiah case

The East Tennessee judge who initially refused to allow a baby to be named Messiah has been charged with judicial code violations by the state’s Board of Judicial Conduct.

A three-member investigative panel associated with the board filed a formal report against Child Support Magistrate Lu Ann Ballew in Cocke County on Wednesday.

In August, Ballew ordered the name of 8-month-old baby Messiah Deshawn Martin be changed. She stated in a ruling and a later interview with Knoxville TV station WBIR that the name “Messiah” was a title reserved only for Jesus Christ.

Another judge later overruled Ballew’s decision and said she had acted unconstitutionally. By then, the baby’s parents had filed a complaint against Ballew with the Board of Judicial Conduct.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20131024/NEWS03/310240192/2066/NEWS03