Judge Lets Man Change Name to Jesus
Christ
By SAMUEL MAULL
Associated Press Writer
Dec 23 6:43 PM US/Eastern
NEW YORK - A Manhattan man's holiday spirits soared to celestial
heights Friday when a judge gave him permission to change his name
to Jesus Christ. Jose Luis Espinal, 42, of Washington Heights, said
he was "happy" and "grateful" that the judge approved the change,
effective immediately. Espinal said he was moved to seek the name
change about a year ago when it dawned on him, "I am the person
that is that name."
Espinal, who acted as his own lawyer, got the change approved by
Manhattan Civil Court Judge Diane Lebedeff, who said she was
"satisfied that this application is neither novel, nor would
granting it pose practical problems."
The judge said name change applications usually are not denied just
because the change might cause practical difficulties or be thought
unwise, as long as a person with the same name does not object to
the proposed change.
She cited a 2001 Utah case in which a man legally changed his name
to "Santa Claus" and a Washington, D.C., case earlier this year in
which a name change applicant obtained a driver's license and
Social Security card in the name of "Jesus Christ."
The judge compared those cases with that of actor Peter Lorre's
widow, who objected to a man who said he was the actor's relative
changing his name to "Peter Lorie."
Though laws differ by jurisdiction, the judge said, there seems to
be a nationwide consensus that a name cannot be changed to a
number. She cited a South Dakota court ruling against a change to
"1069" and a California court rejecting "III" as name.
The judge said she held a hearing in which Espinal, who also uses
the last name Tejeda, testified. She said he was aware of the
"common law right to assume another name without legal proceedings
so long as the change is not made to deceive or perpetrate a fraud
or to avoid an obligation" but wanted to go the formal route
anyway.
The judge said Espinal's "reasons were primarily those applicable
to his own private religious beliefs and he stated no desire to use
his proposed name to secure publicity, to proselytize, to
fund-raise or advise others that he had been cloaked by the courts
or government with a religious authority."
Espinal, who is unemployed and unmarried and has no children, said,
"This was not done for any reason other than I am that person.
You're dealing with the real deal."
******
Judge Lets Man Change Name to Jesus
Christ
Espinal said he was moved to seek the name change about a year ago
when it dawned on him, "I am the person that is that
name."
