Court lets man change name to 'Variable'

[LincolnMcGrath]

SANTA FE, N.M. -- Just in time for Christmas, Snaphappy Fishsuit Mokiligon got a gift from the state Court of Appeals: a name change. The Albuquerque resident's new name will be Variable.

The appeals court ruled this week that a state district judge in Bernalillo County didn't provide sufficient reason for denying Mokiligon's name change application.

The three-judge panel issued a formal opinion in order to clarify the standards that district courts must use in such cases.

While some states require petitioners to show good reasons for name changes, New Mexico doesn't, the court said.


http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2004/12/23/court_lets_man_change_name_to_variable/