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SLDN Statement on 1st Circuit Ruling In “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Appeal
WASHINGTON, DC – Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), issued the following statement today in response to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit’s decision in the case of Cook v. Gates, a constitutional challenge to the Congressional “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law banning openly lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans from military service:
“SLDN applauds the perseverance of the twelve men and women who have brought this case and while we are disappointed that the appeals court upheld the lower court ruling, we are encouraged to see judicial recognition that Lawrence v. Texas requires an intermediate level of scrutiny. We are consulting with the plaintiffs and assessing all possible options before making a decision on our next step.”
The plaintiffs in Cook v. Gates are represented by SLDN and the law firm of WilmerHale. Copies of today’s decision, biographical information on each of the plaintiffs and related information on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” are available online at www.sldn.org.
SLDN will be issuing a more comprehensive media release on June 10, 2008.
Click here to read the full text of the Cook v. Gates decision
