Today, a federal judge ordered the government to stop banning openly gay men and women from serving in the military under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips found the policy unconstitutional in September. On Tuesday, she rejected an Obama administration request to delay an injunction and ordered enforcement of the 17-year-old policy permanently stopped.
U.S. Department of Justice attorneys have 60 days to appeal. Legal experts say they are under no legal obligation to do so and could let Judge Phillips’ ruling stand.