Judge tells school to admit nose-pierced NC girl

[formercia]

AP

Ariana Iacono AP – FILE - In a Sept. 15, 2010 file photo, Ariana Iacono, 14, poses for a photograph in Clayton, N.C. Federal …



By EMERY P. DALESIO, Associated Press Writer Emery P. Dalesio, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 21 mins ago

RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge ordered a North Carolina school to admit a 14-year-old high school student suspended for wearing a nose piercing she says is part of her religion, and the teenager headed to science class Friday afternoon.

U.S. District Judge Malcolm Howard on Friday ordered the Johnston County schools to suspend enforcement of their dress code for Ariana Iacono and allow her to return to school immediately. The judge ruled that the girl and her mother are likely to prevail in the lawsuit filed on their behalf by the American Civil Liberties Union.

"We are thrilled that Ariana can return to her studies," her mother, Nikki Iacono, said in a statement released by the ACLU. "Ariana was an honor roll student in middle school, and she is eager to get back to her classes and continue with her education as soon as possible."

A call to Nikki Iacono by The Associated Press was not immediately returned.

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