I would love to label this as 'cowardly climbdown' but, having read the article about the trial judge, the point is made there that there is no legislation which empowers a judge to -demand- the veil's removal, nor is there a ban on their use.
So, in the face of the absence of certain laws, it becomes a sensible response.
With regard to a law which does exist - that against racial discrimination - I have not the foggiest idea how to apply it, in this case, since it is the minority person who is treating the authority figure with disrespect.
Furthermore, it is unclear whether this can be construed as racially based disrespect, since it is merely someone asserting that their religious belief forbades any male non-spouse seeing their whole face.
Incidentally, if she is found guilty, does this mean her mugshot can be published in the newspaper, like every other criminal?
(Paradoxically, not even her neighbours would recognise her from such a photo, so why there is all this effort to conceal her identity I have no idea).