July selection was set to begin Monday, but trial judge is trying to decide if Hasan's beard should be forcibly shaved
A military appeals court on Friday postponed the court-martial for accused Fort Hood gunman Major Nidal Hasan while it decides if the trial judge can order his beard to be forcibly shaved.
Hasan is accused of opening fire at the deployment center at Fort Hood, Texas, on 5 November 2009. He is charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder in the shooting at the sprawling central Texas complex.
He faces the death penalty if convicted of murder. A practicing Muslim, Hasan has grown a beard in preparation for his death, which he believes is "imminent", attorneys said.
Hasan's attorneys say the beard is an expression of his religious beliefs, but the unshorn facial hair is in violation of army grooming regulations.
The Court of Appeal for the Armed Forces said all proceedings related to Hasan's case have been postponed until further notice. July selection was set to begin on Monday.