TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — A federal judge in Tacoma is deciding whether to reinstate a lesbian flight nurse to the Air Force.
U.S. District Judge Ronald Leighton says he will rule Friday afternoon in the case of former Maj. Margaret Witt. Witt was discharged under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gays serving in the military and is suing to get her job back.
In 2008, a federal appeals court panel ruled in her case that the military can’t discharge people for being gay unless it proves their firing furthered military goals. Leighton held a six-day trial to determine whether her firing met that standard.
Several of Witt’s former colleagues testified that she was an outstanding nurse. Air Force lawyers insist her firing was justified, but the judge expressed doubts about their arguments.
The trial ended Tuesday, just hours after Senate Republicans blocked legislation to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
