US court hears recruitment row

A ruling is expected to take several months

The US Supreme Court begins hearing a dispute over military recruitment on college campuses on Tuesday.

It will decide whether universities that accept federal money also have to open their doors to recruiters.

The dispute is related to the Pentagon policy that allows gay people to serve in the military only if they keep their sexual orientation to themselves.

A number of law schools say recruiters from agencies with discriminatory policies should be barred.

They say they will welcome them in their campuses if the Pentagon drops the policy known as "don't ask, don't tell".

Solicitor General Paul Clement is arguing that recruitment has been especially critical for the US government after the 11 September attacks.

It is the first time the Supreme Court has dealt with a gay rights-related appeal since a contentious 2003 ruling that struck down laws criminalising gay sex.

'Support'

Federal financial support of colleges tops $35bn (£20bn) a year.

A federal law states that universities must give the military the same access as other recruiters or forfeit money from federal agencies like the education, labour and transport departments.

The Bush administration says that if it provides funds to a college, then in exchange it should be able to recruit "the very students whose education it has supported".

But a group of law schools and professors has filed a lawsuit against the Pentagon claiming their free-speech rights are being violated, on grounds that they are forced to associate with military recruiters or promote their campus appearances.

A submission by the Association of American Law Schools says they are facing a "Hobson's choice".

"Either the university must forsake millions of dollars of federal funds largely unrelated to the law school, or the law school must abandon its commitment to fight discrimination," the association argues.

The justices will hear arguments on Tuesday, but a ruling is expected to take several months.