AccountingWEB reported last month that Illinois State Senator Christopher J. Lauzen was planning on going to court to officially change his name to "Christopher J. Lauzen, CPA."

Thanks to Kane County Judge Patrick Dixon, Lauzen's request was denied this week. Citing the state's Public Accounting Act, which lays out how a certified public accounting designation is awarded only by the Illinois Board of Examination, Dixon said he was not allowed to take the place of the board.

Mr. Lauzen plans to appeal. Mr. Lauzen's attorney indicated that "an official" with the Illinois CPA Society had written a letter saying that the society didn't oppose the request.

A Chicago newspaper reports that Joanne Vician, executive director of the Illinois Board of Examiners, who was unaware of Lauzen's request before this week, said that she would bring up Lauzen's request to the board of examiners next month to see if they want to take a position on the name change.

Editor's note: AccountingWEB believes that requests of this sort are incredulous, would dilute the CPA brand image, and should be unequivocally denied. The fact that this issue wasn't killed once and for all this week is disturbing. If you feel the same way, we would encourage you to kindly share your views with the Illinois Board of Examiners at boe@advancenet.net.