Christopher Clark
Senior Staff Attorney
"The Illinois Supreme Court's order is an important step in not only continuing the process of legally changing Turner's name, but also in ensuring equal access to the courts for all citizens of Illinois — a great victory."
The Illinois Supreme Court has ordered a lower court to file a name change petition and fee-waiver request for Daunn Turner — a disabled, transgender woman. A circuit court judge had originally denied the name change and fee waiver, saying Turner's name change was "not that important."
Lambda Legal is representing Turner, a 52-year-old transgender woman seeking to change her name from Donald to Daunn. She wants the name change to better reflect her female identity and to avoid the harassment and discrimination that can result when people learn her current name.
Turner is disabled and receives benefits from the Social Security Disability Insurance Program. When she submitted her name change petition along with an Application To Sue As a Poor Person on July 6, 2007, the Will County Circuit Clerk declined to file her papers, refusing her an official record or case number. Adding insult to injury, when asked to consider Turner's disability and financial situation, the Chief Judge refused, telling her that she should ask for money from her friends on her upcoming birthday to help fund her name change.
