Now come on, I just had said you don't have make an announcement of something like that.
The relevant question with your friend would be, did he disclose his conviction when he was hired? I believe most employers ask about any criminal convictions or felonies on application blanks. If they don't ask, you need not tell. The employer should be able to find out that information anyway on a routine background check. Employers are interested in such facts for good reason.
The problem (for me) is when he or anyone else lies about it, or tries to conceal it. Again, he does not have to volunteer it. I suppose you might say that he can lie to friends and neighbors, as it is none of their business, although that seems hardly praiseworthy.
The old expression, "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time," applies here. If you believe you were in the right and that your conviction was unjust ... then why lie about it? To anyone?
The idea of changing your name, legally, was for people who had names that could be embarrassing, such as "John Fuchs, " or perhaps for people who wished to move away from an ethnic identification, or for other innocuous motives. I don't think the legal right was ever intended to apply to persons who were trying to conceal an unsavory past. I don't have any idea what the legalities of a name change involve, or whether your motive is considered relevant by the court. I kind of think motive must be relevant, or else it wouldn't be a court matter.
Anyway, I am not going to become a big fan of people who try to hide their past actions behind smoke and mirrors.
(I might make an exception for first-time sweet roll thiefs). |
