Welcome to Thursday. So far my day is going better than yesterday and catching up on sleep really helped with that. So, tell us, what’s on your mind? Open thread!
A win for the good guys! Jamie Leigh Jones gets her day in court, thanks to Senator Al Franken.
The Fifth Circuit eventually held that some of Jones’ claims did indeed belong in court because the assault was not related to her employment. KBR had appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, but after initial briefing, KBR withdrew its appeal on March 11.
Why? Sen. Al Franken! Franken successfully advocated a prohibition that keeps contractors receiving federal defense funds from forcing employees to arbitration to resolve certain claims, including civil rights and harassment disputes.
KBR spokesperson Heather Browne told the Blog of the Legal Times that the withdrawal was in fact related to the Franken amendment. Though they said they believe “that the language of the amendment is broad and vague,” they did not wish to run afoul of it.
Jones’ attorney said they are now preparing for trial.
Good news on the DADT front – Sec. Gates has announced changes in the way that the rule is enforced.
The changes raise the level of officer authorized to initiate a fact-finding inquiry into a case, the level of officer who can conduct an inquiry and of the one that can authorize a dismissal.
To discourage the use of overheard statements or hearsay, from now on any evidence given in third-party outings must be given under oath, Gates said. Cases of third-party outings also have included instances in which male troops have turned in women who rejected their romantic advances or jilted partners in relationship have turned in a former lover.
Some kinds of confidential information also will no longer be allowed, including statements gays make to their lawyers, clergy, psychotherapists or medical professionals in the pursuit of health care.
What about public announcements to the media – Lt. Dan Choi or cases like the enlisted woman who was turned in by cops when they found her D.C. marriage license?