A federal appeals court has temporarily reinstated the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that bans gays serving openly in the military.
    
The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals had ordered the policy be stopped. But the court reversed its decision Friday after an emergency request from the Justice Department to keep the enforcement of the ban temporarily.
    
Justice Department attorneys said while the Obama administration wants to get rid of the policy, it needs to be done in a slow, orderly manner.

The court agreed, saying its ruling was based on information provided by both the government and Gen. Steven A. Hummer, who is leading the effort to repeal the policy.

The court said it wanted "to consider fully the issues presented in the light of these previously undisclosed facts."

Friday's order gives the Log Cabin Republicans, the gay activist group in this case seeking to repeal the policy, until 5 p.m. Thursday to file opposition to the motion.

The federal government has until 5 p.m. the next day to file a reply supporting it.