Reflections on Don't Ask, Don't Tell

by Jared Solovay
Director of Employer Relations

Last week, Dan Woods of White & Case LLP visited Golden Gate to discuss his firm's successful legal challenge to the constitutionality of the U.S. military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. Mr. Woods led a team of lawyers in arguing that the policy violated the First and Fifth Amendment rights of gay and lesbian service members. A federal judge in the Central District of California agreed, granting an injunction covering approximately two million service members around the world.

Mr. Woods shared anecdotes and observations from the trial, including evidence suggesting that enforcement of Don't Ask, Don't Tell led to the elimination of key Arabic interpreters before the September 11 attacks, and also led to the military's need to modify its policies and admit convicted felons. Finally, Mr. Woods described the significance of the Ninth Circuit's ruling hours earlier vacating the District Court's decision on the grounds that the recent repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell rendered the decision moot. Watch a recording of this moving and thought-provoking presentation below.



See the rest here on our GGU Law Career Services YouTube channel.