Below you'll find a transcript of the brief April 2001 hearing in Pierce County District Court during which Judge Molly Davis granted John Allen Williams's petition to formally change his name to John Allen Muhammad.

Davis: Okay, Mr. Williams. You're petitioning to have your name changed?

Muhammad: Yes, ma'am.

Davis: What is your current legal name?

Muhammad: My current legal name is John Allen Williams.

Davis: Okay. And what is the new name by which you wish to be known?

Muhammad: John Allen Muhammad.

Davis: And why do you desire to be known by this new name?

Muhammad: For religion purposes.

Davis: Are you changing your name for any other reason?

Muhammad: No, ma'am.

Davis: Are you changing your name to defraud or mislead any person or creditor?

Muhammad: No, ma'am.

Davis: Are you involved in any legal proceeding other than this name change?

Muhammad: No, ma'am.

Davis: And have you ever been convicted of a felony?

Muhammad: No, ma'am.

Davis: Are you under supervision of any probation department that requires you to report a change of address?

Muhammad: No, ma'am.

Davis: I'll go ahead and grant your name change then.

Muhammad: Thank you.

Davis: You can go back out to the front counter to get your paperwork out front. Okay?

Muhammad: So I don't need to come up there?

Davis: No, you don't.

Court clerk: They'll come get it, they'll come get the filing.

Muhammad: I don't need to show you no paperwork? I don't need to bring no witnesses up or anything like that? We can take this on 'til five o'clock if you want...

Court clerk: No, we can't. We need to go home, thank you.

Davis: Yours is pretty simple.

Muhammad: [Laughing] I feel cheated.

Davis: These are fairly routine, so...

Muhammad: Alright, thank you.

Davis: Okay.