Trial Court Declares DADT Unconstitutional
In a bit of a surprise, a federal trial judge in California declared that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is unconstitutional. US District Judge Virginia Phillips’ opinion, released last night, has the potential to be a landmark decision on the DADT issue – as MetroWeekly’s lawyer-turned-reporter Chris Geidner lays out in his post this morning, Log Cabin Republicans v. United States demolishes DADT supporters’ principal arguments that any repeal would damage unit cohesion or unit readiness, and – in the judges’ eyes – demonstrated that the law was unconstitutional as it applied to every American, and not just the members of LCR. While it remains to be seen whether the Obama administration will appeal the ruling, and Phillips has yet to issue a final ruling which would determine a remedy, this case may prove to be a remedy for the apparently stalled legislative efforts to repeal the law.
Related posts:
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- The National: Supreme Court – Anti-Gay Activists Must Reveal Names
- The National: No Prom For Constance McMillen, But Trial Goes Forward
- Charges Dropped Against Choi, Pietrangelo For Protesting Ban On Battlefield Sex
- No repeal of DADT, Sen. Gillibrand to push for hearings
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