The defense attorney who wore a traditional Islamic outfit during the rowdy arraignment of the accused Sept. 11 terrorists is defending her courtroom appeal that other women in the room wear more "appropriate" clothing to the proceedings -- out of respect for her client's Muslim beliefs.
| Appropriate attire for a woman attorney in a U.S. courtroom is a dark blue or gray business jacket and skirt (slacks okay, I'm told) with a white or pastel-colored blouse. Conservative cut, of course, and tailored. An American flag lapel pin is a nice touch. |
Cheryl Bormann, counsel for defendant Walid bin Attash, attended the arraignment Saturday dressed in a hijab, apparently because her client insisted on making the proceedings a circus it. She further requested that the court order other women to follow that example so that the defendants can make the proceedings even more of a circus do not have to avert their eyes "for fear of committing a sin under their faith."
| Imagine all this playing out in a New York federal courtroom... |
At a press conference Sunday at Guantanamo Bay, Bormann said she dresses in a hijab at "all times" when she meets with her client "out of respect" for his beliefs. Asked why she requested other women do the same, Bormann said, "When you're on trial for your life, you need to be focused."
| She's just begging to antagonize the court, and all this does is further her clients' goals of turning the proceedings into a travesty. |
Bormann, who is not Muslim, claimed the issue came up several years ago, when a paralegal wore "very short skirts" and it became a distraction for the defendants.
| They were rolling their eyes like mad, and they couldn't even have gun sex... |
| And their right hands weren't working? |
She said that on Saturday, "somebody" was also dressed "in a way that was not in keeping with my client's religious beliefs."
| Her clients need to get a thicker skin. And blinders... |
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