Judge Ana Reyes presided over a challenge to the Trump administration's executive order, framed as prioritizing military readiness but viewed as a transgender service member ban. The DOJ's attempt to disguise the ban was met with skepticism from Reyes, who articulated that such a justification reflected a disdain for gender identity rather than military necessity. Throughout the proceedings, the court's tension revealed the rift between legal argumentation and the stark realities of the ban, illustrating the difficulties faced by the DOJ in justifying an inherently discriminatory policy.
Judge Reyes questioned how the government thought it could avoid showing "animus" by recasting the ban as a matter of the service members' honor.
Reyes dismantled the DOJ's effort to downplay gender animus amid a scathing exchange with DOJ attorney Jason Lynch.
Collection
[
|
...
]