Georgia ACLU Applauds Head Coverings Policy
The Georgia Judicial Council, the policy-making body for Georgia courts, adopted a policy last week clarifying that religious head coverings can be worn in Georgia courthouses.
“We are thrilled that the Georgia Judicial Council has decided to adopt this policy, thereby ensuring that no one in Georgia will ever have to choose between their fundamental right to free expression of religion and their right to gain access to a courthouse,” Azadeh Shahshahani, the ACLU of Georgia National Security/Immigrants’ Rights Project Director, said in a press release Monday. “This is a step in the direction of ensuring that the guarantee of religious freedom is assured to all Georgia residents, regardless of their faith.”
Douglasville Municipal Court Judge Keith Rollins found Lisa Valentine (also known by her Islamic name, Miedah) in contempt of court for refusing to remove her headscarf and had her arrested on Dec. 16. Valentine and other Muslim women reported they were refused access to the Douglasville Municipal Court, even after they expressly conveyed to court officials that the wearing of the headscarf is an expression of their faith.
The ACLU of Georgia raised the issue of balancing the courts’ security concerns with individuals’ fundamental right to religious liberty on June 12 at the Georgia Supreme Court’s Committee on Access and Fairness in the Courts regular meeting.
Valentine attended that meeting and spoke to the committee about her experience.
“I am very happy to know that no person of faith will ever have to suffer at any Georgia courthouse the type of egregious treatment I suffered because of the expression of my faith,” Valentine said Monday.