Judge Strikes Down Military Ban on Gays THIS WILL MAKE RACHEL MADDOW HAPPY!

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) -- A federal judge on Thursday declared the U.S. military's ban on openly gay service members unconstitutional and said she will issue an order to stop the government from enforcing the ''don't ask, don't tell'' policy nationwide.

U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips said the ban violates the First and Fifth Amendment rights of gays and lesbians. ''Don't ask, don't tell'' prohibits the military from asking about the sexual orientation of service members but requires discharge of those who acknowledge being gay or are discovered engaging in homosexual activity, even in the privacy of their own homes off base.

In her ruling, Phillips said the policy doesn't help military readiness and instead has a ''direct and deleterious effect'' on the armed services.

The Log Cabin Republicans, a 19,000-member group that includes current and former military members, filed a lawsuit in 2004 seeking an injunction to stop the ban's enforcement. Phillips will draft the injunction with input from the group within a week, and the federal government will have a week to respond.

After-hours e-mails requesting comment from U.S. Department of Justice attorney Paul G. Freeborne and from the Pentagon were not immediately returned Thursday.

The lawsuit was the biggest legal test of the law in recent years and came amid promises by President Barack Obama that he will work to repeal the policy.

The Log Cabin Republicans said more than 13,500 service members have been fired since 1994.

''This decision will change the lives of many individuals who only wanted to serve their country bravely,'' said the group's attorney, Dan Woods.

Woods argued during the nonjury trial that the policy violates gay military members' rights to free speech, open association and right to due process as guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment.

He said the ban damages the military by forcing it to reject talented people as the country struggles to find recruits in the midst of a war. Lawyers also submitted remarks by Obama stating ''don't ask, don't tell'' weakens national security.

Freeborne had argued the policy debate was political and that the issue should be decided by Congress rather than in court.

The U.S. House voted in May to repeal the policy, and the Senate is expected to address the issue this year.

Government lawyers also said Phillips lacked the authority to issue a nationwide injunction.

Six military officers who were discharged under the policy testified during the trial. A decorated Air Force officer testified that he was let go after his peers snooped through his personal e-mail in Iraq.

The officers who participated in the trial were ''reacting emotionally because they're so proud that they were able to play a part in making that happened,'' Woods said after the ruling.

''It'll be an interesting decision for our president to decide whether to appeal this case. He's said that 'don't ask, don't tell' weakens national security, and now it's been declared unconstitutional,'' Woods said. ''If he does appeal, we're going to fight like heck.''

Britney Spears denies JUST what I thought!

Britney Spears denies child mistreatment allegations,
saying L.A. County already investigated them

Britney Spears is denying allegations in a sexual-harassment lawsuit filed by a former bodyguard alleging that she mistreated her two children, saying L.A. County social workers investigated and found no wrongdoing.

In the lawsuit filed in L.A. County Superior Court, Fernando Flores claims Spears sexually harassed him and also mistreated her children. Among the allegations, Flores claims Spears fed the children a type of fish they were allergic to and then refused to call for medical help.

But in a statement on her website, Spears described Flores as someone "trying to take advantage of the Spears family and make a name for himself."

She added: "The Department of Children and Family Services conducted a proper investigation surrounding Mr. Flores' accusations and have closed the case without any further action. Ms. Spears and her attorneys have every expectation that this matter will be dismissed by the courts."


County family services officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Mark Vincent Kaplan, an attorney for Spears' ex-husband, Kevin Federline, also cast doubts on the lawsuit. "He is satisfied that the allegations are a product of economic motives," Kaplan told the Associated Press. "They are as baseless as they seem."

-- Shelby Grad LA TIMES