Karen Ocamb was in the court room:
Attorney Dan Woods opened for Log Cabin:
“Your Honor, this case involves one of the most pressing civil rights issues in our great country today — the discrimination against homosexuals by our country’s military, authorized by the “don’t ask, don’t tell” statute, codified at 10 U.S.C. section 654 and its implementing regulations.”The DOJ – with five attorneys and an Army Major at the table – said they were not going to put on any witnesses or provide any evidence. They were going to rely on the fact that this is a law created by Congress and the judge should pay deference to the military and Congress, as courts have traditionally done.
The rest of the morning was spent trying to prove that the Log Cabin Republicans have “standing” to bring the case. Woods argued that Alex Nicholson, who is now widely knows as the head of Servicemembers United, became a member of LCR on April 28, 2006. Woods elicited testimony from LCR Board President Terry Hamilton that Nicholson had paid $60 dues – but was considered an “honorary” member.
The DOJ strongly objected to whether Nicholson could be considered a member since he didn’t pay any dues and even the $60 dues had lapsed.
And, this line from AP sums up the situation:
The case has put the federal government in the awkward position of defending the policy that President Obama has said should be repealed.
Yeah, in this one, we’re rooting for Log Cabin Republicans over the Obama administration. Imagine that.
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