U.S. Judge Stops "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy; Rules Policy Violates First, Fifth Amendments

The Christian Broadcast Network website reports today (September 11, 2010) that a California judge says the military's ban of openly gay service members is unconstitutional, and she will issue a court order to stop it.

U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips ruled September 9 that the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy violates a homosexual's First and Fifth Amendment rights.

A group known as The Log Cabin Republicans filed a lawsuit in 2004. The group said over 13,500 service members have been fired since 1994.

Phillips will write the order with input from the group within a week, and the federal government will have one week to respond.