Attorneys for the Army psychiatrist accused in the Fort Hood shooting have filed an appeal with the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.
Maj. Nidal Hasan has grown a beard in his time behind bars awaiting trial for the 2009 shooting—an act his lawyers say is an expression of his Muslim faith. But the facial hair violates Army regulations.
Hasan has be held in contempt of court several times for refusing to shave. In September, a judge ordered Hasan to shave or be forcibly shaved. Hasan's counsel appealed that decision but it was upheld last month. Now, they're appealing again.
Hasan's lawyers also want to have the trial judge, Col. Gregory Gross, removed from the case. They say he is biased.
Hasan is on trial for killing 13 people and wounding dozens more in a shooting rampage at Fort Hood in 2009. The appeals over his beard continue to hold up the trial.
Monday marked three years since the shooting. Survivors of the shooting along with family members of victims filed a lawsuit against the federal government. Lawyers for the victims say the Army ignored warning signs and could have prevented the shooting.
