A Maryland man will have his day in court after all. Alexander Neustadter is an Orthodox Jew who sued Silver Springs' Holy Cross Hospital for negligence, but could not attend the trial when the judge refused to accommodate his need to observe a religious holiday. The appeals court ruled that decision a mistake, and ordered the case – which the hospital won in his absence – back to trial.
"The court unreasonably juxtaposed the convenience of jurors, witnesses, and attorneys against (Neustadter's) request for a religious accommodation," the high court ruled.
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"The court's ruling has affirmed the important principle that freedom of religion mandates that an individual's religious observance be accommodated — in the workplace, in academic institutions, and yes, even in the courtrooms of our country," said Abba Cohen, an Agudath Israel attorney.
