Ed O’Keefe reports:
A California federal judge has issued an injunction stopping the military from enforcing its “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which bans gays and lesbians from serving openly in uniform.
U.S. District Judge Virginia A. Phillips ruled Tuesday that the policy “infringes the fundamental rights” of military service members and prospective service members and violates their rights to due process and freedom of speech.
Her ruling bars the Pentagon from enforcing or applying the policy and orders the military to immediately suspend and discontinue any investigations, discharges or other proceedings related to potential violations of the law.
To overturn the injunction, government lawyers would have to appeal to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and ask that the current policy be allowed to continue while the appellate judges consider the case.
Read more in the Washington Post.
I’ll admit I’m a bit surprised, but this is far from over, so buckle up, hunker down, or go in whatever direction suits you while we wait for the next round.
Of course, if President Obama was really serious about getting rid of DADT, he wouldn’t be fighting this, right? Well, right?