The Michigan Supreme Court voted to give judges authority over how witnesses dress after a Muslim woman refused to remove her veil while testifying in a small-claims case.
A statewide rule letting judges regulate the appearance of witnesses, including asking them to remove face coverings, was approved by a 5-to-2 vote. The two dissenters said there should be an exception for people whose clothing is dictated by their religion.
The woman, Gin’nnah Muhammad, sued because her case was dismissed when she refused to remove her veil. The judge in the case, Paul Paruk, told Ms. Muhammad he needed to see her face to assess her truthfulness. The court rule gives judges “reasonable” control over the appearances of parties or witnesses to observe their demeanor and ensure that they can be accurately identified.