Up periscope

North County Times is reporting the indefinite delay of United States v. Wuterich, due to “wrangling” over lawyers.

Washington Blade reports: A Senate defense panel late Thursday approved major Pentagon budget legislation lacking anti-gay provisions found in the House version of the bill, although questions remain on whether amendments related to same-sex marriage or “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” could come up on the Senate floor. Additionally, the Senate version of the fiscal year 2012 defense authorization bill has language repealing Article 125 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice — the long-standing military law classifying consensual sodomy for both gay and straight service members as a crime.

MetroWeekly reports: According to Servicemembers United, which issued a news release about the [Senate] bill this morning, the bill “contains none of the reactionary and distracting amendments related to the repeal of the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ law that were inserted into the House version of the bill, and also would repeal the outdated and widely ignored prohibition on sodomy between consenting adults.”

Navy Times reports: One sailor and 12 dependents at Naval Station Rota, Spain, were disciplined in May and June for the sale and possession of marijuana on the base, a Navy spokesman said Thursday. The 12 dependents have been recommended for “administrative removal,” although six of them are appealing. A second sailor has been implicated in the ring and is facing possible disciplinary measures. A four-month Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigation into the drug ring also led to the April firing of the base’s commanding officer. Capt. William Mosk, who was also serving as commander of Naval Activities Spain, failed to effectively handle issues arising from the investigation, which began in March, the Navy said at the time.

JD News reports: Members selection ongoing – A Marine non-commissioned officer charged with fatally stabbing a colleague during a deployment to Afghanistan is set to face a jury in military court. Cpl. William C. Dalton, 23, of Camp Lejeune’s 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, faces charges of murder and manslaughter in the July 16, 2010, death of Cpl. Dave Santos, 21.