Suit Charges Texas AG's Office With Religious Discrimination

Texas Lawyer reports that earlier this month the former appellate section chief in the Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division filed a religious discrimination lawsuit against the AG's office. She claims that Good Friday gets preferential treatment over Jewish holidays. Texas Government Code §662.003(c) and 662.006 provide that state employees may take a paid day off for Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur or Good Friday, (defined as "optional holidays") but must give up a state holiday during the same fiscal year to make up for it. Plaintiff Rhonda Pressley claims that the AG's office permits employees to take Good Friday afternoon-- but not Jewish holidays-- off without making the time up on another holiday. Her complaint alleges that she was terminated either because she complained to the EEOC about this religious discrimination and/or because she complained that her supervisor favored male employees. The AG's office says that Pressley was terminated for unprofessional conduct.