Suit Charges Discriminatory Application of Driver's License Photo Accommodation

The ACLU yesterday filed a federal lawsuit against the Lee County, Alabama officials in charge of issuing drivers' licenses claiming that they are unconstitutionally administering the state's religious accommodation provision allowing head coverings in license photos.  The complaint (full text) in Allen v. English, (MD AL, filed 8/30/2016, alleges that plaintiff Yvonne Allen is a devout Christian who as part of her religious practice covers her hair with a headscarf.  When Allen requested to wear her head covering for her license photo, officials told her that the religious accommodation for head coverings only applies to Muslims.  The suit alleges that this practice violates the religion clauses of the federal and state constitutions. ACLU issued a press release announcing the filing of the lawsuit.