Glenda J. Bledsoe v. Secretary of the Navy, James H. Webb, Jr.

This case presents questions of justicia-bility and mootness.

The district court dismissed appellant’s claim, under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, section 717(a), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-16(a) (“Title VII”), as nonjusticia-ble. That claim is based on a military officer’s decision to bar a female, civilian employee of a military department from embarking on a Navy vessel.

The district court did not address mootness.

Since we find the claim justiciable and not moot, we reverse and remand for trial on appellant’s Title VII claim.

I

Appellant, Glenda J. Bledsoe, is a female, civilian employee of the United States Department of Navy. She is an electronics technician. Her duties include providing technical assistance for operation and maintenance of navigational and electrical systems aboard E2 aircraft, at sea and ashore. E2 aircraft are located on Navy vessels.

In July 1986, responding to a squadron request for her technical services aboard the USS Ranger, a Navy vessel equipped with E2 aircraft, appellant attempted to embark the USS Ranger.

The commanding officer of the vessel refused to allow appellant to embark, work or reside on the vessel for the purposes of…