U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips has declared the military’s 17 year ban on openly gay personnel unconstitutional. She has issued an injunction doing away with the much debated rule. After a two week trial, Judge Virginia Phillips came to the conclusion that, the case which was brought about by republicans is absolutely unconstitutional.

Attorneys for the US Department of Justice will now have a period of 60 days to appeal the ruling, if they choose to. Judge Phillips has now ordered the US military “immediately to suspend and discontinue any investigation, or discharge, separation, or other proceeding, that may have been commenced under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”", also stating that the policy had violated the Fifth Amendment rights of gays serving in the military.

Judge Virginia Phillips, is a 53 year old judge serving the United States District Court for the Central District of California. This is a landmark decision, which will likely spark a national debate, however, she has done something that President Obama has yet to be able to accomplish.

Since DADT was implemented 17 years ago, the US military has discharged a total of 13,389 troops.