It’s About Time
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/08/17/domesticspying.lawsuit/index.html
A federal judge on Thursday ruled that the U.S. government’s domestic eavesdropping program is unconstitutional and ordered it ended immediately.
In a 44-page memorandum and order, U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor struck down the NSA program, which she said violates the rights to free speech and privacy. (Read the complete ruling — PDF)
The defendants “are permanently enjoined from directly or indirectly utilizing the Terrorist Surveillance Program in any way, including, but not limited to, conducting warrantless wiretaps of telephone and Internet communications, in contravention of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and Title III,” she wrote.
She declared that the program “violates the separation of powers doctrine, the Administrative Procedures Act, the First and Fourth amendments to the United States Constitution, the FISA and Title III.”
Her ruling went on to say that “the president of the United States … has undisputedly violated the Fourth in failing to procure judicial orders.”
All I can say is it’s about time! I’ll still be biting my nails through the appeals process though. I’ve had to argue for this crap in debate rounds and I still see very little value of having a warrantless wiretapping program. It just doesn’t make sense given retro-active warrants. Under FISA law the government has up to 72 hours to get a warrant after they’ve tapped your lines! Now why would anyone say lets just skip the whole warrant process in the first place?
This program being defeated doesn’t hurt national security. If anything it bolsters our democratic system in ways that will only benefit security in the long-run. Think about it. I have.