SAN FRANCISCO — A federal appeals court on Wednesday temporarily granted the US government's request for a freeze on a judge's order requiring the military to allow openly gay troops.
A three-judge panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals instructed lawyers for the gay rights group that brought the lawsuit successfully challenging the "don't ask, don't tell" policy to file arguments in response by Monday.
The judges would then decide whether to extend the temporary stay while it considers the government's appeal of US District Judge Virginia Phillips' ruling that the policy was unconstitutional.
It was unclear what effect the temporary freeze would have on the Pentagon, which has already informed recruiters to accept openly gay recruits and has suspended discharged proceedings for gay service members.
