'Things Have Changed,' U.S. Judge Says Of Case Over Men-Only Military Draft

Article here. Excerpt:

'One week after Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced women in the U.S. military can serve in any combat role, a federal appeals court is considering a lawsuit from a men's group that says a male-only draft is unconstitutional.
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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in California will now decide "whether to dismiss the case or send it to a lower court for trial," member station KPCC reports.

Here's how KPCC summarized last week's hearing:

"'Things have changed,' Judge Marsha Berzon said at one point during Tuesday's proceedings. 'Right now the position is that all combat jobs are open to women, no?'

"Attorneys for the federal government said the case should still be thrown out arguing, in part, that because the named plaintiff, James Lesmeister, has registered for the draft, the point is moot.

"'There is no assertion in the complaint of any injury whatsoever,' Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonia McNeil said.

Berzon pushed back, saying: 'but they do have an assertion of an injury, i.e. "We have to register. If I were a woman, I wouldn't have to register."'"'