California Settles Lawsuit Filed By Sikh Prison Guard Applicant

The California Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections has settled a religious discrimination lawsuit brought by a Sikh man whose application to become a prison guard was rejected because he refused to shave his beard.  AP reports that under the settlement, plaintiff Trilochan Obeori will receive $295,000 in damages and will be given a $61,000 per year job as a manager in the corrections department's Regulation and Policy Management branch. However the state is not changing its policy that requires most corrections employees to be clean shaven so they can be fitted with gas masks.