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Georgia's AG Supports Permitting Religious Garb In Courtrooms

By Howard M. Friedman

Georgia's Attorney General a href="http://law.ga.gov/00/channel_title/0,2094,87670814_87670933,00.html"Thurbert E. Baker /asays he supports changing court rules to permit the wearing of religious garments, including the Islamic emhijab/em, in courtrooms. A press release yesterday by a href="http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104amp;STORY=/www/story/12-22-2008/0004946131amp;EDATE"CAIR/a says that Baker wrote in response to CAIR's request for sanctions against a Douglasville (GA) judge who has barred from his courtroom Muslim women wearing religious headscarves. (See a href="http://religionclause.blogspot.com/2008/12/justice-department-asked-to-investigate.html"prior posting/a.) Baker wrote that policies "must be designed in such a way so as not to unnecessarily or inappropriately infringe on individuals' rights to observe their religious practices, including the wearing of religious garments...[I]t is difficult to imagine a security concern that could not be addressed in a way that would also accommodate an individual's religious practices related to dress. Religious freedom is a cornerstone of this nation's constitution and should be vigorously protected." Baker also sent a copy of his letter to the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on December 23, 2008 (boomark / email).