Souhair Khatib v. County of Orange, Michael S. Carona, Brian Cossairt, and Does 1 through 10
Published: Mar. 2, 2013 | Result Date: Feb. 13, 2013 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: 8:07-cv-01012-DOC-MLG Settlement – $85,000
Court
USDC Central
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Jennifer Mathis
(Troutman, Pepper, Hamilton & Sanders LLP)
Gena B. Burns
(Burke, Williams & Sorensen LLP)
Defendant
Christina M. Sprenger
(Lawrence, Beach, Allen & Choi PC)
David D. Lawrence
(Lawrence, Beach, Allen & Choi PC)
Facts
The ACLU of Southern California filed suit against Orange County on behalf of Souhair Khatib, a devout Muslim woman who had her probation on a misdemeanor charge temporarily revoked when she appeared in court to ask for an extension of time to complete community service. When she was booked, a male officer ordered her to remove her hijab, a scarf worn by religious Muslim women. She attempted to explain that doing so in front of male strangers would violate her religious beliefs, but was forced to do so anyway.
Result
The parties settled. Orange County agreed to change its policy to allow women to remove religious head coverings outside the presence of male officers, and will provide temporary headscarves for them to wear while they are in custody. The policy also implements a process that allows both male and female detainees/inmates who are already in custody to request a religious head covering.
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