A federal judge in California issued a nationwide injunction Tuesday stopping the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, ending the U.S. Armed Forces' 17-year-old ban on openly gay troops.

U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips of California declared the law unconstitutional, following a two-week trial that was brought to court by the Log Cabin Republicans.

"This is an issue that is important not only to Log Cabin Republicans, not only to gay men and women serving in the military, but really should be of importance to all Americans. It's important that people in the military are able to live their lives open and honestly and service with dignity and respect," said Log Cabin Republicans of New York State Chairman Gregory Angelo.

U.S. Department of Justice attorneys have 60 days to appeal, but legal experts say they could let the ruling stand.

President Barack Obama has been in favor of doing away with the policy.

New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand wrote a letter signed by 20 other senators urging Attorney General Eric Holder not to appeal.

The latest ruling comes after the U.S. Senate rejected a bill to repeal the policy.