On May 16th, 2000, the United States Department of Justice ("D.O.J.") filed a lawsuit under Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., against the City of Newark, New Jersey in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. The DOJ sought injunctive relief, alleging that the defendant violated Title VII by discriminating against the two police officers and other similarly situated officers on the basis of religion.

More specifically, the DOJ claims that the defendant discriminated against the two officers and similarly-situated officers by failing or refusing to reasonably accommodate their religious observance, practice and belief as Muslims of wearing a beard, threatening them with termination, transferring the officers to undesirable assignments, and denying them opportunities to work special overtime events.

On February 26th, 2002, the court (Judge John C. Lifland) entered a Consent Decree between the United States and the defendant. The decree ordered general relief, including the prohibition of discriminating on the basis of religion and retaliating because of participation in or cooperation with the case. Specific relief include monetary awards for the charging parties, the expunging of the claimants' disciplinary records, and the retention of records for the purpose of monitoring the implementation of the decree. The Court retained jurisdiction for two years after the entry of the decree. The case was closed on February 27th, 2000.

Jennifer Hau - 10/29/2007


compress summary