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 Read more
Despite his claim that he grew his beard for religious reasons, an Army appeals court has ruled US Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan, accused in the 2009 Fort Hood massacre, may be forcibly shaved to meet US Army grooming standards.
The court also ruled that Col. Gregory Gross, the trial judge, properly found that the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act does not give Hasan the right to have a beard while in uniform Read more
Col Gregory Gross, the judge presiding over the murder trial of US Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan for the Fort Hood massacre, followed through on his threat and issued an order that Hasan must shave — or he will be shaved.
Gross…issued his order Thursday after a hearing to determine whether a federal religious freedom law applied to Hasan’s case. Soldiers may be granted permission to grow beards for religious reasons, and six soldiers have been allowed to do so: a rabbi, two Muslim doctors and three Sikhs, according to Army records.
Hasan said he is violating regulations not out of disrespect, but of religious requirement:
Hasan told the judge last week that he grew a beard because his Muslim faith requires it, not as a show of disrespect. Gross ruled Thursday that the defense didn’t prove Hasan is growing a beard for sincere religious reasons.
While the whole concept might sound a bit odd to outsiders, forced Read more
Accused Fort Hood shooter US Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan — yes, he is still in the US Army — has been fined by his military judge for refusing to shave. Hasan is required to abide by military dress and personal appearance regulations, which generally prohibit beards. (As noted earlier, beards are also prohibited in the militaries of some predominantly Islamic countries.)
Beards are a violation of Army regulations. Hasan’s attorneys say he keeps declining to shave because he believes that doing so would violate his Muslim faith. Read more
US Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan was kicked out of the courtroom again for wearing a beard in violation of military grooming standards. The issues of accommodation were already discussed, but this exchange was particularly interesting:
Lead defense attorney Lt. Col. Kris Poppe told the judge that Hasan grew the beard as a “deeply sincere” expression of his faith…
“I’ll wait for him to shave if he wants to come back in here,” [Judge Col Gregory] Gross told Hasan’s attorneys. “He has a choice.”
[Attorney LtCol Kris] Poppe responded that it was a choice to “to obey you or his religious faith.” Read more
US Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan’s trial over murder charges stemming from the 2009 Fort Hood massacre was delayed — again — when Hasan showed up to court with a beard. He is still considered a member of the military and is required to maintain military standards of uniform wear.
Judge Col. Gregory Gross ordered the motions delayed “until the near future,” when Hasan meets Army grooming standards or Read more
US Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan, accused in the Fort Hood massacre in 2009, has been arraigned for military trial. His civilian lawyer, retired Colonel John Galligan, reportedly “took a leave of absence” from the case. FoxNews implied his departure might have been related to his lack of security clearance. Galligan has been vocal about Hasan’s “mistreatment” to date:
“I have consistently argued that Major Hasan has not been treated fairly. I maintain that belief,” Galligan said Wednesday.
Col. Gregory Gross, the military chief circuit judge, scheduled the trial for 5 March 2012 in response to the defense’s request for a delay.
By that date, the baby killed in the rampage would have been about 2 years old.