DOJ files lawsuit against Texas prison agency for denying religious accomodation
Source: The Hill
05/04/24 7:24 PM ET
The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against a Texas prison agency for allegedly denying religious accommodation to an employee over wearing a head covering.
Franches Spears, who was a records clerk within the agency’s Pam Lychner State Jail near Humble, Texas, was first put on leave with pay and later terminated after wearing a head covering “as an expression of her Ifa faith.”
“Employers cannot require employees to forfeit their religious beliefs or improperly question the sincerity of those beliefs,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said in a statement. “This lawsuit is a reminder to all employers of their clear legal obligation to offer reasonable religious accommodations. In our country, employers cannot force an employee to choose between their faith and their job.”
The federal lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of Texas on Friday against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). It alleges that the agency violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Read more: https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4643476-doj-files-lawsuit-against-texas-prison-agency-for-denying-religious-accomodation/
Link to DOJ COMPLAINT (PDF) - https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1350656/dl
= new reply since forum marked as read
