Judge Rules Inmate Can't Change Name to 'Sinner'
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
No, the judge said to a 23-year-old Nebraska prison inmate.
You can't call yourself "Sinner Lawrence Bilskirnir."
Court documents say Jonathan L. Thomas cited his Norse religion in seeking the name change, saying he "is a heathen and Thor is his 'High God."'
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
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 says that "simply because a person is a Christian, a Jew or a Muslim, they do not change their name to Moses."