A man in Georgia was denied his right to challenge a parking ticket because of the stubbornness of those in charge:
A man said he was barred from a county courtroom on Thursday because he refused to remove his Muslim head covering, nearly two years after Georgia’s judges voted to allow religious headwear in all state courtrooms.
Troy “Tariq” Montgomery said Henry County State Court Judge James Chafin blocked him from entering his courtroom three separate times to dispute a traffic ticket because he was wearing a kufi, a traditional Muslim head covering. His attorney, Mawuli Mel Davis, said he would soon file a motion challenging the decision….
Montgomery said he was first blocked by a courtroom bailiff from wearing the kufi in the courtroom on April 1, when he was initially scheduled to appear in front of Chafin for the speeding violation. He returned two weeks later with the council’s 2009 policy, but said he still rebuffed.
When he returned on Thursday — this time with his attorney at his side — he said Chafin rejected him again and told him to remain in the hallway during the proceedings. His speeding case is still pending.
This reminds me of my experience with Richard Dubois and J. Christopher Read of the local police department. Neither one is particularly good as his job – and, in fact, the former spends more time trying to have sex with girls 20 years his junior over Facebook than he does helping the city of Augusta (it’s a small town, Richard!) – but each thinks he has an idea of what the law says. That incorrect assumption on their part resulted in me receiving an apology from the chief of police. It seems so common to encounter doofuses who inexplicably are given power.
And that’s the case with Judge James Chafin and his bailiff. It’s quite obvious that these people aren’t really that concerned with getting things right – they just want to feel like they’re right. It’s pathetic and childish. I just hope that once Montgomery wins his battle – and he will win it – he also requests a new judge for his speeding case. It’s obvious Chafin has no interest in fairness and truth.
Filed under: News | Tagged: Henry County, James Chafin, Kufi, Mawuli Mel Davis, Troy Tariq Montgomery |
For the Sake of Science 
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