Separation of Church and State

Kristi Davis represented the mother of Baby Messiah in a Cocke County Chancery Court hearing on September 18, 2013, appealing an earlier decision to change the baby’s name from Messiah to Martin. The baby’s given name of Messiah was restored. Ms. Davis said Judge Forgety found that Judge Ballew’s ruling violated the guaranteed separation of church and state, since “the rationale for her decision was based on her Christian beliefs.”