The Failed Pacifist

FISA Court Rejects Info Request

U.S. District Judge John D. Bates, who sits on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, has rejected the ACLU's request for documents related to standards the court has set regarding government wiretapping. Even though he admitted that the public would benefit from increased oversight and knowledge regarding the program, Judge Bates felt it was too much of a risk to national security.

"Without access to those judicial rulings, the public has no idea what government's surveillance powers are," ACLU lawyer Jameel Jaffer said. "It shouldn't be a controversial proposition that the public has a right to know what the court believes the scope of FISA is."

posted by Doran @ 8:09 PM