Court backs Ohio Muslim leader stopped at border

CINCINNATI (AP) — A federal appeals court has sided with an Ohio Muslim leader trying to find out why she was detained at a border crossing five years ago.

Julia Shearson is director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations office in Cleveland. She was stopped by U.S. border agents in Buffalo in 2006 as she returned with her 4-year-old daughter from a weekend in Canada.

Shearson later sued for records about her case from the departments of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection.

She also wanted to pursue claims against the government for alleged violations of privacy laws, a move rejected by a federal judge.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati overturned that decision Thursday and sent the case back to the lower court.

The Justice Department declined comment.