CAIR-LA was dismayed by the ruling issued yesterday by a federal judge in California against Iranian-American immigration judge Afsaneh Ashely Tabaddor. US District Court Judge George Wu sided with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and dismissed Judge Tabaddor’s claims against the DOJ for discrimination and violation of her First Amendment rights, allowing her to amend and proceed only on her claim of retaliation.
Last August, Judge Tabaddor filed suit against the DOJ for discriminating against her when it ordered her to recuse herself from all cases involving Iranian nationals after she attended an event at the White House for Iranian-American leadership. Along with her allegations of discrimination, she alleged that the DOJ’s blanket recusal violated her First Amendment rights of free speech and association and was an act of retaliation for her engaging in protected conduct.
