Courtroom Judge Has Power To Ban Muslim Veil
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 17 June 2009
- Written by Martha Neil, ABA Journal
A divided Michigan Supreme Court has approved a much-awaited rule of evidence revision that delineates the power of a courtroom judge to determine witness attire.
Rejecting an American Civil Liberties Union argument that the revised Michigan Rule of Evidence 611 should contain an exception for religious dress, the court voted 5-2 to approve a standard that gives the courtroom judge the power to require witnesses to remove head coverings and facial hair, reports the Detroit Free Press.
The rule review was sparked by a small claims case in which a Muslim woman was asked in a 2006 hearing to remove her niqab during a hearing so that the judge could see her face to determine her truthfulness as she was testifying.
Ginnah Muhammad refused to take off the religious veil, and 31st District Judge Paul Paruk dismissed her small claims case against a rental car company as a result. She then filed a federal court suit against the judge, which was later dismissed, according to the newspaper and the Associated Press.
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