NM Livestock Board Employee Sues Over Braided Locs Hairstyle Firing
Christian Patrick alleges firing by NM Livestock Board for his braided locs hairstyle.
Why it matters: This case tests how employers balance grooming policies with New Mexico’s CROWN Act, which protects against hairstyle discrimination. Legal teams should watch for implications in workplace diversity and compliance.
- Christian Patrick, 19, worked three days as a brand inspector before hairstyle conflict.
- Supervisor Barry Allen called Patrick's braided locs bun 'not presentable' for livestock producer visits.
- The 2024 NM Livestock Board handbook requires clean, neatly trimmed hair but does not mandate short hair.
- New Mexico’s 2021 CROWN Act prohibits discrimination based on hairstyles and textures associated with race, relevant here.
Christian Patrick filed a lawsuit in October 2026 claiming New Mexico Livestock Board fired him due to his braided locs hairstyle. His supervisor, Barry Allen, reportedly said Patrick's hairstyle was "not presentable" for meetings with livestock producers and instructed him to cut it or lose his job. Patrick declined to cut his hair and was terminated after three days, according to Court House News.
The Livestock Board’s 2024 employee handbook requires hair to be clean and neatly trimmed but does not require hair to be short. This contrasts with Southern New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy grooming rules, which demand "conservatively short" hair. Belinda Garland, the board’s executive director, stated Patrick "resigned and left without notifying upper management," contradicting Patrick's account.
New Mexico’s CROWN Act, passed in 2021 and signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, bans discrimination based on hairstyles and textures often linked to race, such as braids and locs. ACLU attorneys representing Patrick argue the board's stated reason focused solely on hairstyle appearance, raising legal questions about compliance with the CROWN Act.
Before suing, Patrick had filed a discrimination charge with the state Department of Workforce Solutions' Human Rights Bureau in July 2026, which resulted in a non-determination. The lawsuit spotlights ongoing challenges employers face in aligning grooming policies with evolving anti-discrimination law and workplace diversity expectations.
By the numbers:
- 3 days — Duration of Patrick's employment before hairstyle dispute
- 2024 — Year of current employee handbook outlining grooming standards
- 2021 — Year New Mexico passed its CROWN Act prohibiting hairstyle discrimination
Yes, but: The Livestock Board’s executive director disputes Patrick's firing claim, stating he resigned voluntarily without informing management.
What's next: The lawsuit will further test how New Mexico courts interpret the CROWN Act’s protections in workplace grooming disputes.