A military appeals court has removed Col Gregory Gross from the murder trial of US Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan.  It also vacated the contempt of court fines previously levied.

But what about the religious claim to his beard?

“Should the next military judge find it necessary to address (Hasan’s) beard, such issues should be addressed and litigated anew,” judges wrote in the ruling.

As Reuters observed:

The action by the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces further delays the trial of Hasan…

Once a new judge is appointed, the same story will almost certainly be repeated.

And the survivors and victims’ families will wait.