Via Religion Clause, the ACLU of Georgia has reached an agreement with the City of Douglasville that results in a new policy regarding religious head covering in court rooms. If an individual is required to remove a religious head covering for security reasons, the settlement allows the individual to do so in a private location with a security guard of the same gender. The agreement follows a particularly troubling incident.
In December 2008, Lisa Valentine attempted to accompany her nephew to his traffic hearing before the Douglasville Municipal Court but was told it was against court policy to wear headgear in court. After she protested and attempted to leave, officers restrained and arrested her, forced her to remove her head covering, and jailed her for several hours.
“We are glad that the city of Douglasville has acknowledged that the way that Ms. Valentine was treated was inexcusable and unlawful,” said Azadeh Shahshahani, an attorney with the ACLU of Georgia. “No one should feel singled out in a court of law simply for observing her faith.”
