(KCEN) -- The Army psychiatrist accused in the deadly 2009 Fort Hood shooting rampage is fighting a court order to remove his beard before court martial.
Lawyers for Maj. Nidal Hasan filed an appeal yesterday to overturn the trial judge's decision.
The appeal also asks for the trial judge to be removed from the case because of alleged bias.
Hasan argues the beard is an expression of his Muslim faith, but Army regulations state soldiers must be clean shaven.
Authorities also say having the beard will make it difficult for witnesses to identify him.
All court proceedings have been put on hold while the matter is resolved.
Hasan faces the death penalty or life in prison without parole for the Fort Hood attack that killed 13 people and wounded more than two dozen others.
