The Volokh Conspiracy - Apparently Coming from an Illustrious Irish Family Doesn't Take You as Far as You Might Like:

From a New York trial court decision, May 15, 2006 (paragraph break added):

This petition, to change the surname of a three-year-old minor and amend the child's birth and baptismal certificates, by the child's father, her non-custodial parent, is replete with accusations about the mother's alleged reprehensible and irresponsible conduct, as contrasted with the father's self-suffering [sic] assertions of religious devotion, piety, and upstanding behavior. Petitioner's histrionics are worthy of a Harlequin Romance novel or what was once known in Hollywood as a "four hankie" movie....

It is undisputed that Sean Wilson and Caroline Kilkenny had a relationship from late 2001 to August 2002, and that Ms. Kilkenny became pregnant with Mr. Wilson's child, Claudia Rose Kilkenny, who was born on April 29, 2003 at Lawrence Hospital, Bronxville, New York. The infant has resided continuously with her mother, at the mother's residence in Yonkers, New York....

Petitioner's grounds for changing the child's name include that the father: has an M.B.A. degree and is a C.P.A.; is a practicing Roman Catholic; and, is a member of the "Ancient Order of Hibernia" [sic]. Further, petitioner claims that "[m]y family heritage stems from Ireland and has a depth of history and vitality that procures immediate respect and good will in that region by the mere mention of my surname, Wilson."

He then claims that the name change would: save Claudia "the embarrassment associated with being a fatherless child"; "avoid any feelings of alienation arising in the child from having a different surname from that of Petitioner"; and, "prevent scorn and contempt from befalling Claudia as being associated as a societal bastard' child." ...

As you might gather, the court denies the petition. (The careful reader, incidentally, will have noticed that the request for an order to change the baptismal certificate, which is to say for an order that the Catholic Church change the baptismal certificate, seeks a remedy foreclosed by the First Amendment. The court noticed it, too.)

	[Eugene Volokh, November 3, 2006 at 2:07pm] Trackbacks Apparently Coming from an Illustrious Irish Family Doesn't Take You as Far as You Might Like: From a New York trial court decision, May 15, 2006 (paragraph break added): This petition, to change the surname of a three-year-old minor and amend the child's birth and baptismal certificates, by the child's father, her non-custodial parent, is replete with accusations about the mother's alleged reprehensible and irresponsible conduct, as contrasted with the father's self-suffering [sic] assertions of religious devotion, piety, and upstanding behavior. Petitioner's histrionics are worthy of a Harlequin Romance novel or what was once known in Hollywood as a "four hankie" movie.... It is undisputed that Sean Wilson and Caroline Kilkenny had a relationship from late 2001 to August 2002, and that Ms. Kilkenny became pregnant with Mr. Wilson's child, Claudia Rose Kilkenny, who was born on April 29, 2003 at Lawrence Hospital, Bronxville, New York. The infant has resided continuously with her mother, at the mother's residence in Yonkers, New York.... Petitioner's grounds for changing the child's name include that the father: has an M.B.A. degree and is a C.P.A.; is a practicing Roman Catholic; and, is a member of the "Ancient Order of Hibernia" [sic]. Further, petitioner claims that "[m]y family heritage stems from Ireland and has a depth of history and vitality that procures immediate respect and good will in that region by the mere mention of my surname, Wilson." He then claims that the name change would: save Claudia "the embarrassment associated with being a fatherless child"; "avoid any feelings of alienation arising in the child from having a different surname from that of Petitioner"; and, "prevent scorn and contempt from befalling Claudia as being associated as a societal bastard' child." ... As you might gather, the court denies the petition. (The careful reader, incidentally, will have noticed that the request for an order to change the baptismal certificate, which is to say for an order that the Catholic Church change the baptismal certificate, seeks a remedy foreclosed by the First Amendment. The court noticed it, too.)