Those who walk into any Georgia courtroom will be allowed to wear head coverings, such as scarfs worn by Muslim women. The new policy was adopted at a meeting of the Judicial Council of Georgia, the policy-making body for Georgia courts, on July 22. The policy is designed to balance a court’s legitimate security concerns with a person’s right to practise his or her faith in a public place. Under the new policy, if a security officer wanted to conduct a search, the person would have the option of having the inspection performed in a private area by an officer of the same gender. The measure stems from the December 2008 arrest of Lisa Valentine after she refused to remove her hijab. She said to do so would violate her faith. But Judge Keith Rollins of the Douglasville Municipal Court found her in contempt of court and ordered her to serve 10 days in jail. The incident prompted a formal complaint from the U.S. Department of Justice. The Anti-Defamation League, Council on American-Islamic Relations and American Civil Liberties Union also lodged complaints. On June 12, Ms. Valentine testified before the Supreme Court of Georgia Committee on Access and Fairness in the Courts. “If this had been a nun, no one would have required her to remove her habit,” said Chief Justice Carol Hunstein, who chairs the Judicial Council. “I think this is a good rule, and I think it’s clear.”
HIJAB TO BE ALLOWED IN GEORGIA COURTROOMS
Those who walk into any Georgia courtroom will be allowed to wear head coverings, such as scarfs worn by Muslim women. The new policy was adopted at a meeting of the Judicial Council of Georgia, the policy-making body for Georgia courts, on July 22.
