Langer Grogan and Diver P.C. partner with Stapleton Segal Cochran LLC, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD Law) and the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) representing two longstanding, high ranking Air Force service members from being discharged from the military. Following a hearing to prevent the administrative separation proceedings against Master Sergeant Ireland and Staff Sergeant Bade a temporary restraining order was granted by United States District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn.
In her ruling, Judge O’Hearn wrote, “Being summarily and involuntarily dismissed from military service after years of unblemished and decorated service under the cloud of being suddenly deemed unfit and disqualified for military service for no reason other than one’s gender identity is irreparable harm.”
John Stapleton of Stapleton Segal Cochran and John Grogan of Langer Grogan & Diver said: “Like the thousands of other transgender service members in the military, Master Sergeant Ireland and Staff Sergeant Bade have achieved everything in their military careers on merit and merit alone. They are highly decorated, and they have dedicated their lives to protecting all of us. America deserves to hear their stories. When we move beyond the games of political football and look at the cold hard facts, the transgender military ban is an unconstitutional abuse of power that denigrates military heroes and makes America less safe.”
LGD is proud to be part of the team fighting the unconstitutional ban on transgender service members in the military. GLAD Law and NCLR are also leading the challenge to the transgender military ban in the D.C. federal district court case Talbott v. Trump. That court granted a preliminary injunction on March 18 barring the Department of Defense from implementing the ban, finding that it discriminates based on sex and transgender status; that it is “soaked in animus;” and that, due to the Government’s failure to present any evidence supporting the ban, it is “highly unlikely” to survive any level of judicial review. Follow GLAD Law Coverage here.
LGD’s team includes, John J. Grogan, Mary Catherine Roper, David Nagdeman and Kim Ferrari, along with John S. Stapleton, Eli Segal, Jon L. Cochran, Lowry Yankwich and Tara Amenhauser from Stapleton Segal and Cochran, Jennifer Levi and Michael Haley at GLAD Law and Shannon Minter at NCLR.
Ireland v. Hegseth, et al., No. 54cv01918 (D. N.J).
Learn more about LGD’s work related to social justice and civil rights.