Accused Fort Hood Shooter One Step Closer To Trial - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

(KCEN) -- Nidal Hasan is one step closer to trial.

A military appeals court now has all the information it needs to decide whether Hasan can be forcibly shaved.

Judge Gregory Gross ordered Hasan's beard shaved nearly a month ago.

Since then, Hasan's lawyers have filed a writ against it with the Army Court of Criminal Appeals.

Now that the judge and the government have filed their responses, it's all up to the court.

Hasan says his beard is an expression of his religious belief.

But the judge says it breaks military dress code and has to go.