Court at Peace with Artest's name change
Ron Artest at the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 launch party in Los Angeles. (Sept. 3, 2011) Credit: AP Photo/DAN STEINBERG
A Los Angeles court commissioner has approved Ron Artest's petition to change his name to Metta World Peace.
The bid by the Lakers forward for the new name had been delayed by three weeks so that he could resolve unpaid traffic tickets.
With that issue out of the way, Superior Court Commissioner Matthew St. George approved the change Friday during a brief hearing. Superior Court spokeswoman Patricia Kelly says World Peace is Artest's new last name.
The 31-year-old did not attend the hearing. His publicist says Metta means loving and kindness toward all.
He requested the change in June, citing only personal reasons. He is scheduled to appear on the next season of "Dancing With the Stars."
