“It’s a dark day for people who want to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” said Dan Woods, a partner in the Los Angeles office of White & Case who represents the Log Cabin Republicans, the plaintiff in the court challenge to the constitutionality of the ban.

Proponents of the law’s repeal, including President Obama, are calling on the Senate to overturn Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell during the lame-duck session of Congress.