Judge won't let inmate change name to 'Sinner'

[May 01, 2009]  LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- No, the judge said to a 23-year-old Nebraska prison inmate. You can't call yourself "Sinner Lawrence Bilskirnir."

Court documents said Jonathan L. Thomas cited his Norse religion in seeking the name change, saying he "is a heathen and Thor is his 'High God.'"

But Lancaster County District Judge Steve Burns says government agencies need to closely track Thomas because of his criminal record and because there are three child-support cases against him.

Burns says Thomas' reasons do not satisfy the legal requirements.

In his ruling, Burns said that "simply because a person is a Christian, a Jew or a Muslim, they do not change their name to Moses."

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Information from: Lincoln Journal Star, http://www.journalstar.com/

[Associated Press]

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