Two Federal Courts Reject Appeal to Delay Trans Enlistment

By: Paul Goldberg, Staff Writer

WASHINGTON, D.C — Two federal appeals courts last week and within two days apart, delivered president Trump a devastating defeat in two courtrooms as both courts, rejected the Trump administration’s requests to delay enlistment of transgender recruits past January 1, 2018.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled last Friday that the administration’s request to stay U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly’s order that the military allow qualified transgender people to enlist beginning on Jan. 1, was denied.

Judge Kollar-Kotelly was the first judge to issue a preliminary injunction against Donald Trump’s transgender military ban which in effect blocked the executive order from going into effect among our armed force branches. Two other lawsuits followed.

On top of that, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit last Thursday denied the administration’s request for a stay as well. U.S. District Judge Marvin J. Garbis issued a preliminary injunction against the Trans ban. Not to mention that U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman this month became the third judge to issue such an injunction against the unconstitutional executive order put forth by president Trump.

In fact, the three judges of the D.C. Court of Appeals pointed out that trans citizens are already serving in the military and that delaying enlistments “would deprive the military of skilled and talented troops” and “be counter to the public interest.” ruled the court.

“Finally, in the balancing of equities, it must be remembered that all Plaintiffs seek during this litigation is to serve their Nation with honor and dignity, volunteering to face extreme hardships, to endure lengthy deployments and separation from family and friends, and to willingly make the ultimate sacrifice of their lives if necessary to protect the Nation, the people of the United States, and the Constitution against all who would attack them.”

“There is no justification for any more delay,” said Jennifer Levi, Transgender Rights Project director at GLBTQ Advocates and Defenders, in a press release. Her group, along with the National Center for Lesbian Rights, is representing trans troops in Doe v. Trump. “The military is ready, the country is ready, and the courts have weighed in. Qualified transgender people are ready to sign up and risk their lives in defense of the nation. Our country needs them. It’s time to let them serve.” said Levi.