Winston Caps Historic Victory for Military Service Members with HIV by Celebrating Commissioning of Lead Plaintiff Nick Harrison

Five years after filing a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) policies that discriminated against service members living with HIV, Nick Harrison was finally commissioned as an officer in the United States Army.

To commemorate this historic achievement, Winston of counsel Lauren Gailey and associate John Harding attended First Lieutenant Nick Harrison’s commissioning ceremony in the District of Columbia Army National Guard.  

“The impact of your work extends far beyond me; it has redefined what is possible for HIV+ service members. Words are insufficient to express my gratitude for the role you have played in this journey,” said Harrison. 

In April 2022, Winston and co-counsel won a historic injunction requiring the DOD to allow service members with HIV to deploy worldwide and commission as officers in the U.S. military. Only after filing additional motions over the course of more than a year did the DOD finally accept Harrison’s application for a commission.  

In a recent order, U.S. District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema noted that Harrison “has provided a great service to the Army not just through his years of military service, which included two tours overseas, but by courageously fighting in court to correct an outdated, unconstitutional policy that needed to be abandoned.”

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From left to right: Winston of counsel Lauren Gailey, First Lieutenant Nick Harrison, and Winston associate John Harding.