Contact: Dotty Griffith, Public Education Director,

(512) 478-7300 X 106; (512) 923-1909; dgriffith@aclutx.org

ACLU Wins New Protections

For Religious Expression in Dallas County

Policy Protects Right to Wear Religious Clothing in County Buildings

DALLAS – Today, the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation (ACLU) of Texas announced an agreement with Dallas County and Justice of the Peace Albert Cercone, to protect the religious freedoms of people who undergo security screening before entering county buildings. 

The Dallas County Commissioner’s Court voted to approve a new policy on security screenings on May 27, 2008,in response to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Texas on behalf of Amardeep Singh, a member of the Sikh faith who wears a turban as part of his religious practice.

“We are delighted with the settlement,” said Lisa Graybill, Legal Director of the ACLU Foundation of Texas.  “The Constitution protects the right of Mr. Singh and every citizen to access their government without compromising their religious beliefs.  By applying this new policy, the county and Judge Cercone will help ensure that right is respected in Dallas County.”

Under the policy, security personnel at all county buildings must treat all persons “with proper consideration and respect,” and must allow people wearing religious head coverings or other religious garments to walk through a metal detector without removing the item of clothing. If the metal detector beeps, the policy requires use of a hand held metal detector or private, respectful searches to ensure security without unnecessarily intruding on religious freedom. The policy was developed by the county, and based on models provided by the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF).

“We appreciate the county’s efforts, especially those of Assistant District Attorney Grant Brenna, to develop an excellent policy that addresses our concerns about religious freedom,” said ACLU volunteer attorney Jerry Murad Jr., who represented Mr. Singh.

Dallas County agreed to a final judgment, entered June 19, 2008, in Singh v. Cercone, No. DC-07-10110, filed in Dallas County’s 44th District Court under Texas’ Religious Freedom Restoration Act, under which it must apply the new policy.  Judge Cercone made a similar commitment as part of a settlement agreement that allowed Mr. Singh to move for dismissal of his remaining claims.  The case was dismissed last Thursday, September 11, 2008.

A copy of the final judgment and county policy can be found here.

A copy of the motion to dismiss and settlement agreement can be found online here.

A copy of the ACLU’s petition in Singh v. Cercone can be found online below.

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