Civil libertarians enjoyed a major victory yesterday against Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) with the ruling in the case of Maj. Margaret Witt — ordering her reinstatement despite the fact that she is a lesbian. This important victory, however, was tempered by the news that the Obama Administration is seeking to limit the earlier blockbuster ruling that found DADT unconstitutional. The Administration had the option of not seeking such a change (an option taken by Governor Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Brown in the Proposition 8 case) but decided to try to gut the national impact of the court’s order.
After previously ruling against her and then holding a two-week bench trial, U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton’s ordered her reinstated. He was previously told by the Ninth Circuit in a reversal to look at Witt’s individual case to determine if she is a threat to military readiness and morale. He found instead that her termination was itself a threat to military readiness and that “good flight nurses are hard to find.”
Leighton held that “The evidence produced at trial overwhelmingly supports the conclusion that the suspension and discharge of Margaret Witt did not significantly further the important government interest in advancing unit morale and cohesion.”
The elegant aspect of this decision is that, while it was easy to dismiss gays and lesbians as an abstract and monolithic group, the judge could not maintain such a view once he was required to look at Witt as an individual. He reportedly choked up in the courtroom as he recounted her ordeal.
As I mentioned last night on Rachel Maddow, this could prove a watershed moment. If replicated, the Witt standard could effectively shutdown DADT since the Administration has struggled to avoid such individual reviews — relying on sweeping deference to military claims regarding the impact of gays in the military.
The celebration was muted a bit, however, with news that the Obama Administration is seeking to limit the historic ruling by Judge Virginia Phillips finding DADT unconstitutional and imposing an injunction on its enforcement.
The Obama Administration could have simply let it stand — particularly after the Senate refused to rescind DADT this week. Instead, it has appealed to the judge to reverse her decision on the injunction and not to enjoin DADT nationally (limiting the impact to the plaintiffs in the case).
The Administration has still not responded to the courageous letter sent by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D., N.Y.) and Mark Udall (D., Colo.) to drop any appeal to the Ninth Circuit. Unfortunately, only two Senators signed this letter but it is clearly within Holder’s authority not to appeal the decision. The move to limit the ruling, however, is highly disappointing. This is not a decision that can be attributed to political barriers. While advocates have long charged that the Administration has only half-heartedly supported efforts to rescind DADT, there were no political barriers prompting the filing this demand to limit the impact of the case.
Once again, while complaining about “lethargy” among liberal voters, the Administration should consider its failure to give civil libertarians, gays and lesbians, and others a reason to fight after years of such decisions against their core values.
Source: LA Times
Jonathan Turley
Theory: the administration needs to appeal the matter all the way up to the Supreme Court in order to obtain a definitive, nationally binding ruling that discrimination like DADT is unconstitutional.
Thus a kabuki dance between executive and legislature progresses, culminating in an end run around the dysfunctional legislature.
Blouise,
I agree that James hit the nail on the head. President Obama did not campaign on giving gays full marital rights so this type of decision smacks of trying to turn the clock back. While I agree that the Administration should not have attempted to limit Judge Phillip’s decision, I do disagree with Prof. Turley when he said there was no political barriers because everything Obama does or doesn’t do is used against him by the Right. Why do you think only two Senators signed the letter? I think President Obama should hire an openly gay Chief of Staff to replace Rahm when he runs for Mayor. He needs to catch up with the rest of the progressive movement.
James in LA,
You make a very interesting point and one I had not considered … motivation.
Sitting in “church” for 20 years will do this to a person. Here we have a perfectly reasonable man on most other issues acting like he’s 13 when it comes to marriage equality, which is the mental age you need to be to make this an actual, you know, debate.
He does not see this as a civil rights issue, not even service in the military. This is a clear-cut case religious blindness, stark because of Obama’s other achievements. It sticks out like the cancerous boil it is.
The calcified hands of old time religion still control our debate, resulting in war crimes without trials, violation of treaties without consequence, and the busy-body nose all up in your face over what you can hear, see, and who you can marry.
It is long past time to openly and vigorously question any magic-thinking that forms the basis of our debate. Religion has no place in the public square. It belongs to the Stone Age.
“The celebration was muted a bit, however, with news that the Obama Administration is seeking to limit the historic ruling by Judge Virginia Phillips finding DADT unconstitutional and imposing an injunction on its enforcement.
The Obama Administration could have simply let it stand — particularly after the Senate refused to rescind DADT this week. Instead, it has appealed to the judge to reverse her decision on the injunction and not to enjoin DADT nationally (limiting the impact to the plaintiffs in the case).”
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Shame on the Obama Administration!
Obama does not have the integrity required to make the hard choices. Status quo is easier on so many fronts and thus a favorite choice for those lacking a strong work ethic.
I don’t understand the purpose behind the attempt to limit the earlier Phillips finding and injunction. Where is the impetus for such a move coming from?
From what I understand good Flight Nurses, male or female are hard to find….this could come under the necessity exception in war time…..