Do you not have to have completed law school to become a judge?

**Goofball** · 09-19-2013, 21:41

This one is amazing. A judge in Tennessee ordered a kid's name changed from "Messiah" because she said that name was reserved for Jesus Christ. She was overturned immediately by a higher court for quite obvious reasons. Honestly, whatever her (or your) personal opinions on religion are, how could a judge know so little about the law as to make such an obvious mistake?

Is this maybe a symptom of having elected rather than appointed judges? Not sure if she is elected or appointed, by the way. But this has always interested me. It just seems wrong that judges should have to face voters, as correct legal decisions are often unpopular ones.

http://news.msn.com/us/tennessee-bab...e-rules?stay=1

**rvg** · 09-19-2013, 22:28

Federal judges are appointees. State/Local ones are usually elected.

**Goofball** · 09-19-2013, 23:21

So, can you actually become a judge without being a qualified lawyer? Can any joe blow run for the position?

**Tellos Athenaios** · 09-20-2013, 00:33

Originally Posted by Gelatinous Cube

In some I believe that is the case.

Scary.

**Sarmatian** · 09-24-2013, 20:14

Originally Posted by Gelatinous Cube

Every state is different. In some I believe that is the case.

That is... so cool...

I've just imagined myself as a judge.

**The Lurker Below** · 09-24-2013, 20:20

Harry S Truman first elected office was judge. That was the jobs title. The county elected 3 judges and between the three they chose a Presiding Judge. Harry was chosen. No formal education beyond high school.

**HoreTore** · 09-24-2013, 21:23

Originally Posted by The Lurker Below

Harry S Truman first elected office was judge. That was the jobs title. The county elected 3 judges and between the three they chose a Presiding Judge. Harry was chosen. No formal education beyond high school.

My memory of Truman may be a bit shaky, but wasn't he elected into the bureaucracy of a court? Ie. he was overseeing stuff, but not actually passing judgements and all that?

**Sarmatian** · 09-24-2013, 22:04

Bah, he looked like a butler anyway.

**Major Robert Dump** · 09-26-2013, 09:34

In California you can be an illegal immigrant and be a cop, and if Jerry Brown has his way also a lawyer. It takes all types.

Just curious, what is your opinion on the guy who lost custody of his kids because he named them Hitler? Does the same rule apply here or no?

**HoreTore** · 09-26-2013, 13:15

Originally Posted by Major Robert Dump

In California you can be an illegal immigrant and be a cop, and if Jerry Brown has his way also a lawyer. It takes all types.

Just curious, what is your opinion on the guy who lost custody of his kids because he named them Hitler? Does the same rule apply here or no?

Different rule than the one used in the OP, as that was a rule designed to protect the rights of the child, while the judge above tried to protect the rights of jesus.

If naming your kid Messiah is deemed to give undue burden to a child, I would have no problem with outlawing it.

EDIT: Investigating this a bit further gives this statement from the judge:

"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," Ballew said.

....Which seems to imply that she was thinking of the rights of the child, not jesus. This may be yet another case of media sensationalism...